κνέφας
λέγεται δὲ καὶ κλῶνας αὐτῆς θύραις ἢ θυρίσι προστεθέντας ἀποκρούειν τὰς τῶν φαρμάκων κακουργίας → its branches attached to doors or windows are said to repel the evil of spells
English (LSJ)
τό, Att. gen.
A κνέφους Ar.Ec.290, Com.Adesp.35, later κνέφατος Plb.8.26.10; dat. κνέφᾳ X.HG7.1.15, κνέφεϊ AP7.633 (Crin.), as if from κνέφος, cited by Hsch., Suid., Phot.: (cf. δνόφος):—darkness, Hom. (only in nom. and acc.), of the evening dusk, twilight, εἰς ὅ κε . . δύῃ τ' ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κ. ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ Il.11.194, 209: later, generally, darkness, δυσάλιον κ. A.Eu.396 (lyr.); νυκτός Id.Pers.357, cf. E.Ba.510, etc.; τὸ κατὰ γᾶς κ. Id.Hipp.836 (lyr.): metaph., τοῖον ἐπὶ κ. ἀνδρὶ μύσος πεπόταται A.Eu.378 (lyr.). 2 morning twilight, πρῲ πάνυ τοῦ κνέφους Ar.Ec.290; ἅμα κνέφᾳ at dawn, X.l.c., Cyr.4.2.15.
