ἀτρακτυλ(λ)ίς

Grammatical information: m. (f.)

Meaning: `spindle' (Hdt.), also `arrow' (S., acc. Th. 4, 40 Laconian).

Other forms: ἄδρακτος H. (LSJ Supp.), Gloss.

Derivatives: ἀτρακτυλ(λ)ίς, - ίδος `spindle-thistel, Carthamus lanatus' (Arist.). ἀτρακίς kind of thistle (Strömberg Pflanz. 105).

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

Etymology: Compared with Skt. tarku- `spindle'. The connection with Lat. torqueo, and now Myc. toroqejomeno \/ trokʷeiomenos\/, is impossible (it would have given π, not κ with Schwyzer 299). The ending has been compared with στρατός, σπάρτον, but remains strange. The ἀ- would also remain unexplained. - Unclear also Alb. tjerr `to spin'. So rather a loan (from the substr.); perh. confirmed by ἄδρακτος and ἀτρακίς, if the variation κ\/κτ is old and not due to simplification ; for - τος cf. ἄσφαλτος and Chantr. Form. 300f. Skt. tarku- will be unrelated. - Not to ἀτρεκής.

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