φάσηλος

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Uncertain, though apparently from some European substrate. Identical to Latin phasēlus, of which the Greek is likely the etymon, though traditionally the opposite direction has also been proposed. Albanian bathë (thick bean), reflecting a root *bʰaḱ-, whence also φακός (phakós), has led to claims of an Illyrian source.[1]

Pronunciation

 

Noun

φᾰ́σηλος • (phắsēlosm (genitive φᾰσήλου); second declension

  1. cowpea
    Synonym: σμῖλαξ (smîlax)
    Hyponym: δόλιχος (dólikhos, yardlong bean)

Inflection

Descendants

  • Greek: φασόλι (fasóli)
  • >? Latin: phasēlus

References

  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “φάσηλος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), volume II, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1556

Further reading