μολάχη

μολάχη, ἡ,

A = μαλάχη, Epigr.Gr.1135 (Naples, vase).

Grammatical information: f.

Meaning: `mallow'; on the vocalisation (assimilation?) Solmsen KZ 37, 16 f. (Hes.)

Other forms: also μολόχη (Epich. a. Antiph. ap. Ath. 2, 58d, SIG 1172,8 u.a.), μολάχη (Vaseinscr., Napels). μάλβακα acc. (Orac. ap. Luc. Alex. 25) points to *μαλϜακ\/χ-.

Derivatives: μαλάχιον (Ar. Fr. 320, 10), μολόχιον (Clem. Al.) `female neck-ornament' (also μάλακιον [Poll., H.] after μαλακός); μαλάχιος ἰχθῦς ποιός H.; after the colour (Strömberg Fischnamen 25); μολοχίτης (v.l. - τις) `mallow-coloured stone' (Plin., Isid.; Redard 57); μολόχινος `made from mallow-threads, mallow-coloured' (Peripl. M. Rubr.), μολόχινα n. pl. `mallowclothes' (ibd.) \> Lat. molochina f. - Cret. GN ἐμ Μολοχᾶντι (Nom. *Μολοχᾶς; Schwyzer 528).

Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]

Etymology: With Lat. malva (from where Malve etc.) from a Mediterranean language; since long compared with Hebr. mallūaḥ name of a growth like salade; here also Georg. balba? Further, less certain connections in W.-Hofmann s.v.; s. also Cocco Arch. glottol. it. 40, 16ff. - The hapax μάλβαξ (Luc. Alex. 25 μάλβακα acc.), which Solmsen KZ 38, 447 adduced, of which the similarity with malva is remarkable, proves that the word is Pre-Greek; so the word was taken by Pre-Greek from Semitic.

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