Κνίφων

Frisk Etymological English

Grammatical information: PN (Va, Meisterhans3 74).
Other forms: younger Γνίφων m. prop. Niggard
Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]
Etymology: Popular, expressive formation, cf. (attested late) κνιπός, σκνιπός, σκνιφός niggard, mean to κνίψ etc. (s. v.); Γνίφων has like γνάπτω a secondary anlaut-weakening (diff. Schwyzer 414). For Γνίφων it is easy to find agreeing words, e. g. Lith. gnýbu, MLG knīpen kneifen, ONo. knīfr knife (Pok. 370f.). Hdn. Gr. 2, 949 cites without explanation κνίφω, -ιάω. - The variants cited rather point to a Pre-Greek word.