merdra-

Grammatical information: n.

Meaning: `fennel, Foeniculum vulgare' (Epich., D., Thphr.), - ος m. f. (Hermipp.), also (without loss of the ρ) μάραθρον (Alex., hell. pap., Dsc.)

Dialectal forms: Myc. maratuwo \/ marathwon\/

Compounds: Compp. εὑ-μάραθος `rich in fennel' (AP), ἱππο-μάραθ(ρ)ον'Prangos ferulacea' (Diocl. Med., Thphr., Dsc.; διὰ τὸ μέγεθος, Strömberg Pflanzennamen 30).

Derivatives: μαραθίς, - ίδος f. = ἱππομ. (Ps.-Dsc.), μαραθᾶς m. `fenneltrader' (Robert Rev. de phil. 70, 52 f.), μαραθίτης οἶνος (Dsc., Gp.; Redard 97), Μαραθών, - ῶνος m. f. (η 80) a. other PN (Tovar Emer. 12, 320).

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

Etymology: As plant-name suspected to be of foreign origin (Schwyzer 61). Explanation from IE by Hesselman Symb. Danielsson 94ff.: to NSwed. mjärd(r)e, OSw. miærdher m. n. `fishtrap resp. its funnel-like entrance', PGm. * merdra-, IE * mer(ǝ)- dhro- (cf. βέρεθρον: βάραθρον); further connections in WP. 2, 272, Pok. 733 [?]. The plant was then called after its funnel-like flower; cf. Strömberg Pflanzenn. 50. Doubts by Debrunner IF 51, 209. The Myc. dorm refutes the proposal. Rather a Pre-Greek word (note α-α), cf. Schwyzer 1, 61.

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