κόλπος

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Ancient Greek

Etymology

Of uncertain origin. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kʷelp- (to curve, arch), which would also be the source of Proto-Germanic *hwalfą (vault, arch),[1][2][3] though Greek *πόλπος (*pólpos) would be expected, and the semantics are distant.

Alternatively, if the original meaning was closer to crevice and from a verb to carve, cut, cleave, compare Proto-Germanic *halbaz (half) and Sanskrit कल्प (kálpa, rule, precept, arrangement, literally something cut to shape?), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kolp-, possibly an extension of *(s)kel(H)- (to cut, slice, chop, carve). (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

 

Noun

κόλπος (kólposm (genitive κόλπου); second declension (Epic, Attic, Doric, Aeolic, Koine)

  1. bosom, lap
  2. a fold in fabric around the bosom
    • 300 BCE – 200 BCE, Theocritus, 15 134:
      λύσασαι δὲ κόμαν καὶ ἐπὶ σφυρὰ κόλπον ἀνεῖσαι
      lúsasai dè kóman kaì epì sphurà kólpon aneîsai
  3. any hollow space, pocket
  4. especially of water, the hollow between waves
  5. gulf, bay, creek

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants


Further reading

References

  1. ^ James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Κόλπος”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC.
  2. ^ Roberts, Edward A. (2014) A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Spanish Language with Families of Words based on Indo-European Roots, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN
  3. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “κόλπος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), volume I, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 740-741

Greek

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos). Doublet of κόρφος (kórfos).

Pronunciation

Noun

κόλπος (kólposm (plural κόλποι)

  1. bosom
  2. bay, gulf
  3. (anatomy) vagina
  4. (anatomy) atrium (of the heart)

Declension

Declension of κόλπος
singular plural
nominative κόλπος (kólpos) κόλποι (kólpoi)
genitive κόλπου (kólpou) κόλπων (kólpon)
accusative κόλπο (kólpo) κόλπους (kólpous)
vocative κόλπε (kólpe) κόλποι (kólpoi)

Synonyms