τὸ+ἐν+παῖς+παγίσι+ἐπικαμπες+ξύλον

Grammatical information: n.

Meaning: `trap', usu. (semitism) `temptation, scandal' (LXX, NT; PCair. Zen. 608, 7; III^a [- άνων gen. pl.]).

Derivatives: 1. σκανδαλ-ίζω `to tempt (to sin), to give offence, to annoy', - ίζομαι `to be tempted to sin, to take offence' (LXX, NT) with - ιστής m. des. of an acrobat, e.g. `trapeze-artist' ( SIG 847, 5; II<sup>p</sup>; on the meaning below); 2. - όω `id.' (Aq.). Besides σκανδάλ-η f. `stick of a trap' (Alciphr. 3, 21, 1: κρεᾳδιον τῆς σκανδάλης ἀπαρτήσας; reading not quite certain), - ος ἐμποδισμός H. -- σκανδάλ-ηθρον n. (Ar. Ach. 687: σκανδάληθρ' ἱστὰς ἐπῶν), after sch. ad loc. `the crooked stick in the trap' ( τὸ ἐν παῖς παγίσι ἐπικαμπες ξύλον), after Poll. 7, 114 `that which is bound with the cord' (τὸ τῃ̃ σπαρτίνῃ προσηρτημένον as opposed to παττάλιον = τὸ ἱστάμενόν τε καὶ σχαζόμενον [ τῆς μυάγρας]; Poll. 10, 156 σκανδάληθρον is identified with παττάλιον.

Origin: IE [Indo-European]X [probably] [not in Pok.], PGX [probably a word of Pre-Greek origin]

Etymology: As instrument noun σκάνδαλον indicated prob. a suspended or free hanging down (piece of) wood (cf. πέτευρον, ῥόπτρον), from where developed in concreto both `loosenings, instrument (Germ. Stellholz) in an animal-trap' as `acrobat-bar' (from where σκανδαλιστής). From this σκανδάλ-ηθρον (on the formation Chantraine Form. 373 f.), prob. prop. of the trap (Germ. "Stellholzgerät") itself (thus most prob. in Ar.), but in use identified with σκάνδαλον, which referred to the trap (cf. Swed. giller `Stellholz, and the trap with it'). -- Of old (Pott, Bopp; s. Curtius 166) as IE connected with Lat. scandō `mount', Skt. skándati `jump, hop, hurry', MIr. perf. se-scaind `he jumped'; orig. meaning so `apparatus going off' (Osthoff Etym. parerga 1, 355 f.)? -- WP. 2, 540f., W.-Hofmann s. scandō; on σκάνδαλον further Bauer Gr.-dt. Wb. s. v. w. lit. (esp. G. Stählin Skandalon, Gütersloh 1930). -- The forms adduced seem to point to an IE word (* skend-, skond-), but the a-vocalism rather points to a Pre-Greek word; as does the meaning (technical instr., used by acrobats; cf. on κυβιστάω).

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