Ἀτζίγγανος
Ancient Greek
Alternative forms
- Ἀτζίγκανος (Atzínkanos), Τζίγγανος (Tzínganos), Τζιγγάνος (Tzingános)
- Ἀτσίγγανος (Atsínganos), Τσίγγανος (Tsínganos) — normalisation by later sources
Etymology
First attested in the 14th century. Traditionally associated with the ἀθίγγανος (athínganos, literally “the untouchable”), a member of a Christian sect,[1] but this is often rejected.[2] Perhaps from Ottoman Turkish چنكانه (çengâne), from Persian چنگانه (čingāna, “Gipsy”), if not the other way around. Ultimately possibly of Turkic origin, compare Turkish çığan, çığay (“poor”),[3] compare also τσιγκούνης (tsigkoúnis, “stingy”). If so the initial ἀ- (a-) would be an innovation within Greek.
Pronunciation
- (15th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA(key): /atˈsiŋ.ɡa.nos/
Noun
Ἀτζίγγανος • (Atzínganos) m (Byzantine)
- Gypsy
- 15th c., Ἰωάννης Σταφιδᾶς, Ἰατροσόφια, Ms. grec 2316, folio 436r:[4]
- ἢ ἀτζίγκανος· ἢ ἀτζιγκάνισσα·
- ḕ atzínkanos; ḕ atzinkánissa;
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 15th c., Ἰωάννης Σταφιδᾶς, Ἰατροσόφια, Ms. grec 2316, folio 436r:[4]
- general term of insult
- 14th c., Ὁ Πουλολόγος [Ho Poulológos], lines 121–123[5]:
- θέλω σὲ καθυβρίσει. // τζαχαρατᾶ μὲ τὴν φωνὴν, μεσημβρινὲ μὲ τ’ ἄσπρα, // ἀτζίγγανε μαυρότεχνε, ἐμὲν τὰ συντυχαίνεις;
- thélō sè kathubrísei. // tzakharatâ mè tḕn phōnḕn, mesēmbrinè mè t’ áspra, // atzíngane maurótekhne, emèn tà suntukhaíneis?
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Derived terms
- Ἀτζιγκάνισσα (Atzinkánissa)
- Τζιγκάνα (Tzinkána)
Descendants
- Greek: τσιγγάνος (tsingános)
- → Italian: zingaro, zingano
- → Russian: цыга́н (cygán), цыга́нъ (cygán) — pre-1918 spelling, цы́ган (cýgan) — sometimes used in songs
References
- ^ Kriaras LME, pages 324f.: “Ἀτσίγγανος”
- ^ LKNE, “ατσίγγανος”; Korais Atakta, vol. 4, pages 37f.: “Ἀτζίγγανος”
- ^ Nişanyan Sözlük, “çingene”
- ^ Legrande BGV, vol. 2, page xix
- ^ Wagner (1874), page 183