σκορπ-ίον

Grammatical information: m.

Meaning: `scorpion' (A. Fr. 169 = 368M.); often metaph. as adjunct of a fish (com., Arist a.o.; after the poison-stings, Strömberg 124 f., Thompson Fishes s.v.; also σκόρπ-αινα, - ίς, s. bel.); a plant (Thphr.; Strömberg Theophrastea 50f.); of a constellation (Cleostrat., hell.; Scherer Gestirnn. 170); a war machine for firing arrows (Hero a. o.; from this σκορπίζω, s. bel.); of a stone (Orph.; also σκορπῖτις, - ίτης).

Compounds: As 1. member e.g. in σκορπί-ουρος (- ον) plantn. (Dsc.).

Derivatives: 1. Subst.: σκορπ-ίον n. plantn. (Dsc.), - ίδιον n. `small slinging-machine' (Plb., LXX), - ίς f. (Arist.), - αινα f. (Ath.) fishn. (s. ab.); - ῖτις f., - ίτης m. name of a stone (Plin., late pap.; after the colour and shape, Redard 61); - ιών, - ιῶνος m. monthname in Alexandria (Ptol.). 2. adj.: σκορπ-ιώδης `resembling the s.' (Arist., Ph. a. o.), -ήϊος.. - ειος `belonging to the s.' (Orph., Man.), - ιόεις `id.' (Nic.), - ιακός `id.' (medic.), - ιανός `born under s.' (Astr.). 3. verbs: σκορπ-ίζω, also w. δια- a.o., `to scatter' (Hecat.[?], hell. a. late), - ιαίνομαι `to be enraged' (Procop.), - ιοῦται ἀγριαίνεται, ἐρεθίζεται H.

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

Etymology: As the scorpion belongs to the warmer lands and is not at home above the 40. degree north. breadth, everything suggests a loan from a mediterranean language. -- Usually with Persson Stud. 57 a. 168, Beitr. 2, 861 as IE connected to a word for `plane, scratch etc.' with several representatives especially in Germ., e.g. OE sceorfan `scratch', scearfian, OHG scarbōn `plane, tear up' (IE * ser-p-), OE sceorpan `scratch, prickle' (IE * sker-b-); to this Latv. šḱērpêt `cut a lawn' etc.; s. WP. 2, 581 ff., Pok. 943 f. -- Lat. LW [loanword] scorpius, -iō, Russ. LW [loanword] skórpij. -- As stated prob. a Pre-Greek word. Furnée (index!) thinks that all words with (s)kr(m)P- contain the same Pre-Greek word; cf. κάραβος, καράμβιος, * σκαραβαῖος, κεράμβυξ, κεράμβηλον, κηραφίς, γραψαῖος. This is perh. possible, but it cannot be considered certain. One notes that all forms clearly have καρα(μ)P-, but that γραψαῖος and σκορπιος do not have a vowel between ρ and the (nasal +) labial (the presence of a vowel agrees with the (pre)nasalization).

Page in Frisk: 2,738-739