βόμβυξ Ancient Greek · revision 3263

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=6th–5th century BC, Aeschylus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /bóm.byːks/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈβom.byks/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈvom.byks/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''βόμβῡξ''' (bómbūx) ''m'' (genitive βόμβῡκος); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a loanword from the east.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(DGE) Beekes thinks it must be of Anatolian origin, as its structure suggests: an original ⟨*p/bamb-ūk-⟩ with a suffix ⟨-ūk-⟩.^(Beekes 2010)^(Beekes 2014) He notes that silk was produced in Kos and Asia Minor before it was brought from farther east.^(Beekes 2010) It recalls a group of words for cotton, of which [[ota|pambuk|t=cotton]] is the best match.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Frisk adds [[pal|pambak|t=cotton]] and the Greek [[πάμβαξ|tr=pámbax]] and [[βαμβάκιον|tr=bambákion]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(DGE) The PHILOGLOSSA database rates the explanation as of low reliability.^(PHILOGLOSSA)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest example is a fragment of Aeschylus, where it means a flute: a player holds “''bombukes'', the work of the lathe”.^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In music it was a deep-toned flute, the cap or neck of a flute, and the lowest note of the scale, a sense Aristotle cites from the Pythagoreans.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) Aristotle is also the first to use it for the [[m|en|silkworm]], and Pliny for the cocoon.^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010)^(DGE) Alciphron uses it for a silk garment, and Pliny for cotton from Egypt.^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940) Hesychius adds that it meant a kind of wasp and, among the Spartans, a jar.^(Hesychius)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|bombyx]], and it is the source of the scientific name ''Bombyx''.^(Wiktionary)^(Frisk 1960) Modern Greek has [[m|el|βόμβυκας|tr=vómvykas]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Aeschylus uses it for a flute.^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940)

+ * 4th century BC – Aristotle uses it for the silkworm and for the lowest note of the flute.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 1st century AD – Pliny uses Latin ''bombyx'' for the silk cocoon and for cotton.^(DGE)

+ * 4th century AD – Alciphron uses it for a silk garment.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century AD (probably) – Hesychius records it as a Laconian word for a jar.^(Hesychius)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|silkworm]].^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010)

+ # A [[m|en|silk]] garment.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # A deep-toned [[m|en|flute]]; the cap of a flute.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # The lowest note on the flute.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # An insect like a wasp.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # ''(Laconian)'' A jar.^(LSJ 1940)^(Hesychius)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[βομβύκινος|tr=bombū́kinos]]

+ * [[βομβύκιον|tr=bombúkion]]

+ * [[βομβυκοειδής|tr=bombukoeidḗs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[βαμβάκιον|tr=bambákion]]

+ * [[la|bombyx]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ PHILOGLOSSA treats the flute word as a separate entry among sound words, beside the silkworm.^(PHILOGLOSSA)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}