ἀρανίς

Grammatical information: n. pl.

Meaning: `flowers' as decoration in woven tissues and embroidery (Χ 441 θρόνα ποικίλα; from here ποικιλό-θρονος as surname of Aphrodite Sapph. 1, 1; thus also χρυσό-, ἀργυρό-θρονος a. o., see Lawler Phil Quart. 27, 80ff.), `flowers' as medicine and charm (hell. poets); after sch. on Theoc. 2, 59 the Thessalians called variegated embroidered figures (πεποικιλμένα ζῳ̃α), the Cypriots variegated clothes ( ἄνθινα ἱμάτια) θρόνα; H. glosses θρόνα both as `flowers' and as `colourful embroideries' ( θρόνα ἄνθη, καὶ τὰ ἐκ χρωμάτων ποικίλματα H.); cf. Bechtel Dial. 1, 448; Bowra JournofHellStud. 54, 73.

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

Etymology: Starting from a hypothetical meaning `variegated' (Hoffmann BB 15, 86), Lidén Stud. 67f., 95f. compares Alb. drë-ri, drê-ni m. `deer' (prop. "the variegated"?; cf. on νεβρός), PAlb. * drani- (= ἀρανίς [for δρ-] ἔλαφος H. as Illyrian?), IE * dhroni-. Diff. Solmsen KZ 35, 474f.: θρόνα prop. `herbs, flowers' to Russ. dërn `lawn, grass' etc. (rejected by Lidén l. c., Vasmer s. dërn). Acc. to Stokes (s. Bq) to MIr. druine `embroidery'. - Fur. 189 compares τρόνα α᾽γάλματα, η ῥάμματα ἄνθινα H., which proves Pre-Greek origin; a `local' origin seems post probable.

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