ῥαθαί-νεται ῥαίνεται

Grammatical information: f., most pl.

Meaning: `drop' (Λ 536 = Υ 501, Hes., Pi.); also `dust particle' ( κονίης ῥ. Ψ 502), `spot' (Opp.).

Derivatives: ῥαθαμίζω `to besprinkle' (Opp., Nonn.; like σάλπιγξ: - πίζω). By-forms ῥαθμίζεσθαι ῥαίνεσθαι; ῥαθαί-νεται ῥαίνεται, βρέχεται H.; ῥαθασσόμενοι ῥαινόμενοι H., Phot.

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

Etymology: Popular formation in - ιγξ like λάϊγγες, στροφάλιγξ, πύλιγγες (s.v.) a.o. (Chantraine Form. 398ff., Schwyzer 498); further analysis unknown. As basis could have functioned a noun *ῥαθαμός ( οὑλαμός, ποταμός a.o.); beside it apparently *ῥαθμός in ῥαθμίζεσθαι (prob. through syncope, a is often found in Pre-Greek). As βαθμός: βαίνω also *ῥαθμός: ῥαίνω? Through crosses or enlargements ῥα-θαίνω (: ῥαίνω), ῥαθάσσω (: σταλάσσω). Further s. ῥαίνω. -- Diff. Bechtel Lex. s.v. (to ῥώθωνες `nostrils'). -- Clearly a Pre-Greek word (not in Furnée).

Page in Frisk: 2,638-639