Fallow Deer/A Closer Look

[X99Lynx at aol.com]

On 14 May 2001, at 9:24, Rick Mc Callister wrote:
<<Is there a known etymology for <dama> and Greek <tame>?>>

In a message dated 5/19/2001 10:27:19 PM, bmscott at stratos.net replied:
<<For <tame>, Gk. <dama:n> 'to tame', and Lat. <doma:re>
'to tame, subdue' Watkins (2000) gives PIE *demH2-.>>

It's a bit more complex in Greek and Latin.  I'm not sure about <dama:n>, I
don't see that particular form.

The development perhaps points to the transfer of the word from cattle and
horses to deer.  The Romans kept herds of deer in compounds as may have been
the practice in the Near East.  Note that while the fallow deer is modern
taxa "dama", the official taxa "damaliscus" refers to the "damalis" as cow
(-like.)

As far as Greek goes:
damazo: - to tame, to break in, to subdue (breaking in an untamed mule of six
years in Homer as: "damasasthai";  pres. part. "damazo:n ti" in Xenophon.)
This form of verb seems to be "a derivative."

damasis - taming, subduing

Damaios - interpreted as Horse-Tamer, epithet of Poseidon

Damasippos - horse-breaking, of Athena

Damate:r - Dor., Arc., Thess. and Boeot. form of goddess Demeter

damase:no:r - man-subduing (lion)

damasikondulos - subduing with the knuckles (boxer)

da:mante:r - tamer (of wild animals?)

da:male:s - subduer (Eros)/ young steer

da:ma:lis - young cow, heifer

dama:los - interpreted as perhaps a calf

damalopodia - calves' feet

da:ma:le:phagos - beef-eating

da:ma:le:botos - interpreted as browsed by heifers

dme:sis - taming, breaking ("hippo:n" - Iliad17:476)

dme:te:r - tamer (early)

dmo:s - slave or animal taken in war (cattle raid or perhaps the hunt?)

AND finally, starting with Homer -

dama:r - wife, spouse

NOTE that most of the early references above are to a variety of mostly
domestic animals, but in the <damal-> form, specifically to cattle.

In Latin:

damma (dama) - "a general name for beasts of the deer kind; a fallow deer,
buck, doe, antelope, chamois" (L-S); also an early word for "venison"

damium  -  an animal sacrifice "in honorem Bonae Deae"; the part sacrificed

damalio - a calf

damula - interpreted as either a fawn or a small fallow-deer

domo, domui, domitum (domtavi) - to tame, to break in

COMPARE <domesticus> - of or belonging to the house (domus)

Cf., Grk, domos - in Homer, often enclosure or abode for animals, e.g.
sheepfold (Iliad 12:301); "Sanskrit root, dam-, da:m - ya:mi, to be tame."

Regards,
Steve Long