grifshë

Albanian

Alternative forms

• grifshkë

Etymology

Either related to krip (“hair”) (cf. krife), or borrowed from a Vulgar Latin *gripsa (compare Friulian grip (“nuthatch”)), from Latin gryps (“griffon”), from Ancient Greek γρύψ (grúps).

Noun

grifshë f (plural grifsha, definite grifsha, definite plural grifshat)

1. (zoology) jay, Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)

   Synonyms: grizhlemzë, çotë

2. (figurative, derogatory) shrewish woman
3. arbutus, wild strawberry tree
4. (central Gheg, Dibër) mane of horse
5. spotted goat

Hyponyms

• grifshë e deti (“roller”) (Coracias garrulus)

Derived terms

• grizhël

Related terms

• krip
• krife

References

• “grifshë”, in FGJSSH: Fjalor i gjuhës së sotme shqipe [Dictionary of the modern Albanian language]‎ (in Albanian), 1980
• “grifshë”, in FGJSH: Fjalor i gjuhës shqipe [Dictionary of the Albanian language] (in Albanian), 2006
• Mann, S. E. (1948) “grifshë”, in An Historical Albanian–English Dictionary, London: Longmans, Green & Co., page 133