ῥύματι ἕλκειν

Grammatical information: v.

Meaning: `to pull the towing rope, to tow, to take in tow' (hell. a. late).

Origin: GR [a formation built with Greek elements]

Etymology: Technical term of the nautical language; from *ῥυμ-ουλκός `who draws by a line, tow; tows a boat' or as compound directly from ῥύματι ἕλκειν `draw the tow-line' after other verbs in - ολκέω, e.g. νεωλκέω (: νεωλκός, ναῦν ελκειν), πλινθουλκέω (: πλινθουλκός); cf. Schwyzer 726. The 1. member is not with Georgacas Glotta 36, 180 f. ῥυμός `pole (of a chariot)' but ῥῦμα `tow-line'; on the transformation in the ο-stems cf. e.g. αἱμο-βαφής. -- Here as LW [loanword] Lat. remulcum n. `tow-rope' (since Caes.), - āre `take in tow' (Non.); by W.-Hofmann s.v. doubted. Details ibd. and in Ernout-Meillet s.v.

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