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Help[Surname] On Kanakis
in reply to a message by Anonyme
Indeed, Mavros is "black" in Greek.
"Kanakis" is a bit more obscure. It means "caress" particularly when applied to a child or infant. It is derived from the ancient Greek "kanachi" (êáíá÷Þ) meaning the sound of metals and musical organs. The Latin word "cano" is derived from "kanachi" -- this gave birth to words such as "chanter" (french), "cantar" (Spanish) (all meaning to sing) and bizzare way also produced the German "hahn" (rooster) and the English Hen :)
"Kanakis" is a bit more obscure. It means "caress" particularly when applied to a child or infant. It is derived from the ancient Greek "kanachi" (êáíá÷Þ) meaning the sound of metals and musical organs. The Latin word "cano" is derived from "kanachi" -- this gave birth to words such as "chanter" (french), "cantar" (Spanish) (all meaning to sing) and bizzare way also produced the German "hahn" (rooster) and the English Hen :)
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Replies
How do you pronounce Kanake (and I don't mean Kanakis)?
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According to the Greek Lexicon of Hesychius of Alexandria (5th century A.D.?), the word Kanakis is synonymous with Xiphos (a short bladed sword). See http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/resolveform?lang=Greek
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Kanakis is obviously related to Akinakis (pl. Akinakes), 'sword' and Turkish Kana, 'dagger'. The use of this weapon in battle is thought to be a Scythian or Persian innovation, so perhaps the name derives from a Scythian or Persian word.
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The Greek words "kanakis", "akis", etc (which refer to "a pointy edge") are all of feminine gender and end with an iota. (ÁÊÉÓ, ÊÁÍÁÊÉÓ in case you can see Greek fonts). However the *name* Kanakis -- whick is relateä, áó ìåíôéïíåä áâïâå, to KANAXH - ends with an eta.
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Point taken. But what is KANAXH? (Do you perhaps mean KANAKH or 'Kanake', daughter of Aiolos? If you don't, do you think Kanake and Kanakis are related?).
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