Leo Connoly wrote: > To which I say: The vowels are still all wrong, which renders the rest > of it moot. > Leo Connolly 1. Not exactly true: the I- of Istambul corresponds perfectly to the i- in 'is tin poli'. 2. Cf. anc.-gr. propolis 'bee-glue' > mid-gr. ke'ropoli > turk. dial. girebullu: The vowels are all wrong, but the word is Greek, believe it or not. R. Piva