ὄρνεον ἀδηφάγον καὶ παμφάγον

Grammatical information: f.

Meaning: `morbid `longing' of pregnant women craving for strange food' (Dsc., S. E., Sor., Gal.).

Other forms: Att. κίττα.

Derivatives: κισσάω, κιττάω `have κ.' (Ar., Arist.), `become pregnant' (LXX), with κίσσησις (Gal.). κισσώδης `full of κίσσα' (Dsc.).

Origin: GR [a formation built with Greek elements]

Etymology: Age and frequency of the attestations suggest, that κισσάω as opposed to 2. κίσσα is primary, so a backformation (thus Lagercrantz Lautgeschichte 86ff., but with wrong etymology). But κισσάω is a denominative of 1. κίσσα `jay, magpie' and refers to the wellknown gluttony of the bird ( ὄρνεον ἀδηφάγον καὶ παμφάγον sch. Ar. Pax 496); so κισσάω prop. popular-expressive `behave like a jay (magpie)'. - The usual connection with Skt. kéta- `will, desire', Lith. kviečiù `invite' etc. (Solmsen KZ 33, 294ff.) must be given up. Other wrong etymologies in Bq. The gloss κοῖται γυναικῶν ἐπιθυμίαι is just an incidental use of κοίτη = `marital bed, sexual intercourse'.

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