μέλ-ινος

Grammatical information: f.

Meaning: `ash, lance made from ash-wood' (Il., also Thphr.; cf. Trümpy Fachausdrücke 57).

Other forms: ep. - ίη f.

Compounds: Compp. μελιη-γενής `born from an ash' (A. R.); ἐϋ-μμελίης m. `weaponed with a good lance' (Hom.; on the formation Schwyzer 451), after it φερε-μμελίης `lance- bearing' (Mimn.).

Derivatives: μέλ-ινος (ρ 339), further with metr lengthening (Chantraine Gramm. hom. 1, 100) μείλ-ινος (Il.) `of ash-wood'; after δρύ-ϊνος a.o., also favoured by the metre; besides μελί-ϊνος (Att. inscr.), μελέ-ϊνος (Att. inscr., Thphr.), after πτελέ-ϊνος a. o. (Schwyzer 243 supposes dissimilation from - ι-ι-; Wackernagel IF 25, 337 = Kl. Schr. 2, 1033 accepts both).

Origin: IE [Indo-European]X [probably] [969] * smel- `ashy-grey'.

Etymology: Morphologically and etymologically isolated. Starting from the grey colour of the wood Prellwitz s. v. supposes connection with Lith. (dial.) smėlùs `sandcoloured, ashy-grey' with which anlaut. ( μ)μ- could agree (cf. Chantraine Gramm. hom. 1, 176). Unconvincing analysis by Schulze Q. 118: *[σ]μελϜ-ίᾱ, - ινος.

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