ξεφτέρι

Greek

Etymology

Inherited from Mediaeval Byzantine Greek ξεφτέριν (xephtérin)[1] < ξυπτέριν < ἐξυπτέριον, from Koine Greek ὀξυπτέριον n (oxuptérion, “hawk”) with assimilation of pronunciation [pt] > [ft][2] and with the influence of ξε- (xe-).[3] a diminutive of Ancient Greek ὀξύπτερος (oxúpteros, “sharp-winged, hence swift-winged”) < ὀξύς (oxús) + πτερ(όν) n (pter(ón), “wing”) + -ος (-os). Compare to ὠκύπτερος (ōkúpteros, “swift-winged”) and the etymologies of ὀξύς (oxús, “sharp”) and ὠκύς (ōkús, “quick”).
Cognate with Pontic Greek ξυφτέριν (xyftérin) and akin to τσίφτης (tsíftis) and Albanian qift. Probably, not related[3] to the Latin accipiter from acus.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /kseˈfte.ɾi/
  • Hyphenation: ξε‧φτέ‧ρι

Noun

ξεφτέρι • (xeftéri) n (plural ξεφτέρια)

  1. (bird) Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
  2. (figuratively, not formal) bright spark, quickwitted, intelligent

Declension
declension of ξεφτέρι
case     \     number singular plural
nominative ξεφτέρι • ξεφτέρια •
genitive ξεφτεριού • ξεφτεριών •
accusative ξεφτέρι • ξεφτέρια •
vocative ξεφτέρι • ξεφτέρια •

See also

Bird names, denoting figuratively quick wit:

  • αετός m (aetós, “eagle”)
  • εξυπνοπούλι n (exypnopoúli), ξυπνοπούλι n (xypnopoúli, “smarty pants, literally: a clever bird”)
  • σαΐνι n (saḯni)
  • τσίφτης m (tsíftis)

Bird names, denoting figuratively slow wit:

References
  1. ξεφτέρι - Kriaras, Emmanuel (vol.1 1969-) Επιτομή του Λεξικού της Μεσαιωνικής Ελληνικής Δημώδους Γραμματείας (Epitomí tou Lexikoú tis Mesaionikís Ellinikís Dimódous Grammateías) [Concise Dictionary of Medieval Vulgar Greek Literature (1100–1669) Vols. I–XIV] (in Greek) Online edition (22 vols. printed edition)
  2. ξεφτέρι - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.
  3. Babiniotis, Georgios (2010), “ξεφτέρι”, in Etymologikó lexikó tis néas ellinikís glóssas [Etymological Dictionary of Modern Greek] (in Greek), Athens: Lexicology Centre

Further reading
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