ῥέμφος τό στόμα

Grammatical information: n.

Meaning: `(hooked) birdbeak' (com., Call., Plu.).

Other forms: Further ῥαμψόν καμπύλον, βλαισόν; ῥαμψὰ γόνατα βλαισὰ γόνατα, τὸ δε αὑτὸ καὶ ῥαιβά H.; (after γαμψός a.o?); cf. Specht Ursprung 200 w. lit., Stang Symb. Oslo. 23, 47.

Compounds: λεπτό-ραμφος `having a thin beak' (Paul. Aeg.).

Derivatives: ῥαμφή f. `crooked knife' (Plb., H.). From ῥάμφος: ῥάμφ-ιον n. dimin. (sch.), - ίς, - ίδος f. `crooked clasp' (Hero), also = νεὼς εἶδος H. (cf. κορωνίς), - ιος = πελεκανός (Cyran.), - ώδης `beak-like' (Philostr.), - ησταί ἰχθῦς ποιοί H. (Strömberg Fischnamen 43), - άζομαι `to poke with the beak' (H., Phot.).

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

Etymology: Beside ῥάμφος, ῥαμφή (cf. e.g. γράφος: γραφή) stands with regular full grade ῥέμφος τό στόμα, η ῥίς H. With ῥαμφ- cf. καμπ-, γναμπ-, κραμβ- a.o., for the anlaut also ῥαιβός. No direct agreement. Phonetically comparable, semant. combinable ῥέμβομαι `turn round, roam' (s.v.) with ῥόμβος `(magic) wheel'. Furher one compared Germ., MLG wrimpen `turn up one's nose', wramp-achtich `curled, crooked'; so IE *u̯remb(h)-. Cf. ῥάβδος, ῥέμβομαι; also ῥομφαία. -- The variation β\/ψ prob. points to a Pre-Greek word, which is also prob. seen the a-vocalism.

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