χέλυς

Ancient Greek

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *gʰelu-, *gʰelew- ,*gʰelōw- (tortoise). Related to χελώνη (khelṓnē, tortoise). Compare to Proto-Slavic *žьlvъ, whence Old Church Slavonic желу (želu, turtle), Polish żółw (tortoise).

Pronunciation

(Homeric)
 
(later poetry)
 

Noun

χέλῡς or χέλῠς • (khélūs or khélus) f (genitive χέλῠος); third declension

  1. tortoise
  2. lyre
  3. (astronomy) Lyra, a constellation
    • 315 BCE – 240 BCE, Aratus, Phaenomena 268
  4. arched breast, chest

Declension

Synonyms

  • (tortoise): χελώνη (khelṓnē)
  • (arched breast, chest): χελώνιον (khelṓnion)

Derived terms

  • χέλῠδρος (khéludros)

Descendants

  • Latin: chelys

References

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