τήθυον

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

  • τήθεον (tḗtheon)

Etymology

Kalén assumes earlier *θή-θυον (*thḗ-thuon) and connects the word with θάω (tháō, to suck) and θύλακος (thúlakos, sack). This explanation is nonsensical and typical of older Greek etymologies. According to Beekes, it is more probably a Pre-Greek word, given the variation υ/ε.

Pronunciation

 

Noun

τήθῠον • (tḗthŭonn (genitive τηθῠ́ου); second declension

  1. sea squirt (tunicate of the class Ascidiacea)

Inflection

Descendants

  • Translingual: Tethya

Further reading