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[217] φολκός, φοξός, ψεδνός are all “ἅπ. λεγόμενα” in Homer, and it is impossible to be sure of their derivation and meaning. The first seems never to recur in all existing Greek literature. “φολκὸς ὁ τὰ φάη εἱλκυσμένος ὃ ἐστιν ἐστραμμένος” (i.e. squinting), Schol. This A. etymology was universally accepted by antiquity, but it is of course untenable. Buttm. Lexil. p. 536 points out that the order of the adjectives clearly shews that “φολκός” refers to the feet or legs. He is probably right in explaining ‘bandy-legged,’ but not in connecting it with valgus. It goes rather with “φάλκης”, the rib of a ship, Lat. falx, falco. φοξός is explained as meaning strictly ‘warped in burning,’ of pottery (“φοξὰ κυρίως εἰσὶ τὰ πυριρραγῆ ὄστρακα”, Schol., who quotes Simonides, “αὕτη δὲ φοξίχειλος Ἀργείη κύλιξ”), and hence with a distorted head. In this sense ‘the works of the old physicians shew that it continued in constant use, not merely as a poetical word, but as one of daily occurrence’ (Buttm. l.l.). Perhaps conn. with “φώγω”, bake (Buttm., Curt.), in the sense of over baked. “ψεδνός, παρὰ τὸ ψῶ, ὄνομα ῥηματικὸν ψεδνὸς ὁ μαδαρός”, Schol. L (i.e. falling away, sparse).

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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