ἐρυσίπελας

Ancient Greek

Etymology

Medical term of unusual formation. Traditionally derived from ἐρῠθρός (erŭthrós, red) +‎ Proto-Indo-European *pel- (to cover, wrap; skin, hide; cloth); compare πέλμᾰ (pélmă, sole of foot) and Latin pellis (a skin, hide, felt, pelt). According to Beekes, it may also be of Pre-Greek origin, comparing the first element of the word with the first element of ἐρῠσῑ́βη (erŭsī́bē, rust in plants) and ἐρῠσῐ́σκηπτρον (erŭsĭ́skēptron, kind of plant).

Pronunciation

 

Noun

ἐρῠσῐ́πελᾰς • (erŭsĭ́pelăsn (genitive ἐρῠσῐπέλᾰτος); third declension

  1. (pathology) erysipelas (a skin disease)

Inflection

Derived terms

  • ἐρῠσῐπελᾰτώδης (erŭsĭpelătṓdēs, adjective)

Descendants

  • Latin: erysipelas

References

Further reading