διρκαία

English (LSJ)

ἡ,

   A = κιρκαία, Dsc.3.119: δίρκαιον, τό, = δαῦκος, Ps.-Dsc. 3.72; = στρύχνον ὑπνωτικόν, Id.4.72. δίρκος, ὁ, = φθείρ 111, Paus. Gr.Fr.131.

Frisk Etymological English

Grammatical information: f.
Meaning: = κιρκαία, Vincetoxicum nigrum (Dsc.);
Other forms: δίρκαιον n. (Ps.-Dsc.) = δαῦκος (s. v.) and στρύχνον ὑπνωτικόν, Withania somnifera; δίρκος m. seed of pine (Paus. Gr.)
Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]X [probably]
Etymology: Acc. to Dsc. 4, 75 the plant was called after the sorceress Circe ("ἐπειδη δοκεῖ ἡ ῥίζα φίλτρων εἶναι ποιητική"). We do not know which of the two forms is original. διρκαι- may be from the source Δίρκη. S. Strömberg Pflanzennamen 93 and 152. Fur. 255 points to the Pre-Greek names in -αιο-.