χαστούκι

• χαστουκιά f (chastoukiá)

From Byzantine Greek χαστούκι (khastoúki), of unknown origin. Due to the phonetics and phonotactics of the term, it is suspected to be an Arabic borrowing, though particularly strong candidates are lacking.^[1] Possible comparanda include Arabic خَدّ (ḵadd, “cheek”) under this theory. It also appears plausible that the term is onomatopoeic.

• IPA^(key): /xaˈstu.ci/
• Hyphenation: χα‧στού‧κι

χαστούκι • (chastoúki) n (plural χαστούκια)

1. smack, slap (blow on the cheek given with the open hand)

   Η Τζένη του έδωσε χαστούκι όταν προσπάθησε να της βάλει χέρι.

   I Tzéni tou édose chastoúki ótan prospáthise na tis válei chéri.

   Jenny gave him a slap when he tried to grope her.

   ανάποδο χαστούκι ― anápodo chastoúki ― backhander (slap with the back of the hand)

2. (figuratively) blow (damaging occurrence)

   Η ζωή του έδωσε πολλά χαστούκια αλλά το μεγαλύτερο ήταν ο θάνατος της γυναίκας του.

   I zoḯ tou édose pollá chastoúkia allá to megalýtero ítan o thánatos tis gynaíkas tou.

   Life dealt him many blows, but the biggest was the death of his wife.

• (slap): σφαλιάρα f (sfaliára), κόλαφος m (kólafos), μπάτσος m (bátsos), ράπισμα n (rápisma), σκαμπίλι n (skampíli), φάπα f (fápa)

• χαστουκάκι n (chastoukáki) (diminutive)
• χαστουκιά f (chastoukiá)
• χαστουκίζω (chastoukízo, “to slap, to smack”)
  • χαστούκισμα n (chastoúkisma, “slapping, smacking”)

• χαστούκι, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language