μέγαρα

Frisk Etymological English

1
Grammatical information: n. pl.
Meaning: pits, into which one threw living pigs at the Thesmophoria (Paus.);
Other forms: (μάγ- Men.)
Origin: LW [a loanword which is (probably) not of Pre-Greek origin] Sem.X
Etymology: prob. from Semitic, cf. Hebr. meārā cavity; s. Lewy Fremdw. 94, but he prefers identifying the word with μέγαρον hall.