Explained by Frisk as metaphorical use of ὄσχος (óskhos, “vine-branch”). According to Beekes, the word may well be of Pre-Greek origin.
ὄσχη • (óskhē) f (genitive ὄσχης); first declension
| Case / # | Singular | Dual | Plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ἡ ὄσχη hē óskhē |
τὼ ὄσχᾱ tṑ óskhā |
αἱ ὄσχαι hai óskhai | ||||||||||
| Genitive | τῆς ὄσχης tês óskhēs |
τοῖν ὄσχαιν toîn óskhain |
τῶν ὀσχῶν tôn oskhôn | ||||||||||
| Dative | τῇ ὄσχῃ têi óskhēi |
τοῖν ὄσχαιν toîn óskhain |
ταῖς ὄσχαις taîs óskhais | ||||||||||
| Accusative | τὴν ὄσχην tḕn óskhēn |
τὼ ὄσχᾱ tṑ óskhā |
τᾱ̀ς ὄσχᾱς tā̀s óskhās | ||||||||||
| Vocative | ὄσχη óskhē |
ὄσχᾱ óskhā |
ὄσχαι óskhai | ||||||||||
| Notes: |
| ||||||||||||