2025-01-212025-01-212021-02Rodríguez Piedrabuena, S. y Jiménez Delgado, J.M. (2021). On the etymology of πορφύρα ‘purple’. Glotta, 97 (1), 246-261. https://doi.org/10.13109/glot.2021.97.1.246.2196-90430017-1298https://hdl.handle.net/11441/167103The noun πορφύρα ‘purple’ has been considered a loanword from a non-IE language, as well as an onomatopoeic word. This paper addresses the much-discussed etymology of the word by examining the way in which the noun πορφύρα relates to the verb πορφύρω and the adjective πορφύρεος. Thus, the word is explained as an action noun in *-eh2, which originally referred to the ‘agitation’ of water and the turbidity caused during the dyeing process. The verb πορφύρω in its turn is interpreted as a reduplicated form of φύρω. The root vocalism of the family remains difficult to explain and a pre-Hellenic origin may therefore be assumed. However, an IE etymology can still be envisaged in view of the existence of likely cognates outside Greek.application/pdf18 p.engpurpleetymologyaction nounsφύρωπορφύρωπορφύρεοςinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess10.13109/glot.2021.97.1.246