# γάιδαρος
## Greek
### Alternative forms

More than 40 dialectal/regional variations of root γ-δ-ρ found.
* γάδαρος m (gádaros) (dialectal modern, also Hellenistic and Medieval)
* γαΐδαρος m (gaḯdaros) (dated, also Medieval)
* γαϊδούρι n (gaïdoúri) (frequent variant)
* Also, see Synonyms for more dialectal words

### Etymology

From Hellenistic Koine Greek γάδαρος (gádaros) of 2nd century CE. Medieval γάιδαρος (gáidaros)/γάδαρος (gádaros)/γαΐδαρος (gaḯdaros) or γαϊδάριον (gaïdárion) Origin theories:
* Uncertain, obscure: from Arabic غَيْذَار (ḡayḏār) with proposed meaning “harshness, oppression”.
* Based on the form γαύδαρος (gávdaros), the same word as Arabic كَوْدَن (kawdan, “beast of burden, particularly a mule or hinny”), which see for more, a word then also present in Khotanese [script needed] (khaḍara, “mule”), alleged source of Turkish katır (“mule”), Kazakh қашыр (qaşyr, “mule”) etc.
* Or from Hindi ghádar, gadarō or gadaró meaning “gypsy”.
* Not from γαϊδούρι (gaïdoúri) < (καρ)γαδούρι ((kar)gadoúri) from cargatore (literally “carrier”) from cargar (“to load onto oneself”)
* Not from the Ancient Greek γάδος (gádos, “cod”), common name: γαϊδουρόψαρο (gaïdourópsaro).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈɣai̯.ða.ɾos/
* Audio:(file)
* Hyphenation: γάι‧δα‧ρος

### Noun

γάιδαρος • (gáidaros) m (plural γάιδαροι, feminine γαϊδούρα or γαϊδάρα)
* donkey, ass, Equus asinus
* (colloquial, derogatory, figuratively) lout, boor, ass, jackass, pig, jerk (an uncultred, ill-bred man)
    Τι γάιδαρος ήταν ο αδελφός της, που δεν μας είπε ούτε ένα «γεια»!Ti gáidaros ítan o adelfós tis, pou den mas eípe oúte éna «geia»!What a boor her brother was, he didn't even say "hi" to us!

#### Synonyms

* ἀείδαρος m (aeídaros) (Medieval, by false etymology)
* όνος m (ónos) (formal, archaic)
* dialectal/regional:
** γομάρι n (gomári) colloquial, regional, from Ancient Greek γόμος (gómos) (14 variations) (see also حِمَار (ḥimār))
** γάνταρος (15 variations), γάζος (7 variations), γκάφαλος, γκανέτσος
** γάρος (in Cyprus)
** with root βαστ- from βαστώ (vastó, “I hold, carry”): βασταγός 9 variations at the Peloponnese
** ασίνο from Latin asinus
** μερκέπι from Turkish merkep
** φορτύκι: φορτ- root from φέρω (féro) (I bear, carry), 4 variations in Corfu island.
* (jocular) κυρ- (kyr-)Μέντιος (Méntios) from Μενδαῖος ὄνος, of the city Μένδη (Méndē)

#### Derived terms

* γαϊδάρα f (gaïdára, “she-ass”)
* γαϊδαράκος m (gaïdarákos, diminutive)
* γαϊδούρα f (gaïdoúra)
* γαϊδουράγκαθο n (gaïdourágkatho, “Scotch thistle”)
* γαϊδουράκι n (gaïdouráki, diminutive)
* γαϊδουράκος m (gaïdourákos, diminutive)
* γαϊδουριά f (gaïdouriá, “rudeness, discourtesy”)
* γαϊδουρινός (gaïdourinós, “loutish”)
* γαϊδουρίσιος (gaïdourísios, adjective)
* γαϊδουρόβηχας m (gaïdouróvichas, “extreme coughing”)
* γαϊδουρογάιδαρος m (gaïdourogáidaros, superlative sense)
* γαϊδουρογυρεύω (gaïdourogyrévo, “to donkey-search”, literally “search in vain”) (in proverbs)
* γαϊδουροδένω (gaïdourodéno, “to tie a donkey”) (in proverbs)
* γαϊδουροκαβαλαρία f (gaïdourokavalaría, “donkey cavalry”)
* γαϊδουροκαλόκαιρο n (gaïdourokalókairo, “at the summer's hottest”)
* γαϊδουρολάτης m (gaïdourolátis, “donkey guide”)
* γαϊδουρομούλαρο n (gaïdouromoúlaro, “mule with donkey mother, horse father”)
* γαϊδουροτόμαρο n (gaïdourotómaro, “donkey skin”)
* γαϊδουρότριχα f (gaïdourótricha, “hair of donkey”)
* γαϊδουροφωνάρα f (gaïdourofonára, “extremely loud voice”)
* γαϊδουρόψαρο n (gaïdourópsaro, “cod”) (colloquial)
Expressions with both γάιδαρος or γαϊδούρι
* γάιδαρος/γαϊδούρι ξεκαπίστρωτο (xekapístroto)
* γάιδαρος/γαϊδούρι ξεσαμάρωτο (xesamároto)
Expressions with γάιδαρος
* γάιδαρος με περικεφαλαία (gáidaros me perikefalaía)
* δένω τον γάιδαρό μου (déno ton gáidaró mou, “to consolidate one's position”) (literally: "to tie one's donkey")
* κατά φωνή κι ο γάιδαρος (katá foní ki o gáidaros, “talk of the devil”) (literally: "by voice, here's the donkey")
* σκάω γάιδαρο (skáo gáidaro, “to try someone's patience, to drive someone mad”) (literally: "to burst a donkey")
Expressions with γαϊδουρ-
* γαϊδουρινή, υπομονή (ypomoní)
* κάλλιο γαϊδουρόδενε παρά γαϊδουρογύρευε (kállio gaïdouródene pará gaïdourogýreve, “a stitch in time saves nine”) (literally: "better to tie your donkey up than to be looking for it")
* Κυπραίικο γαϊδούρι n (Kypraíiko gaïdoúri)
* μακριά γαϊδούρα f (makriá gaïdoúra)
* πετάει ο γάιδαρος; (petáei o gáidaros?)
Proverbs with γάιδαρος
* δυο γάιδαροι μαλώνανε σε ξένον αχυρώνα (dyo gáidaroi malónane se xénon achyróna) (literally: "two donkeys were fighting in a stranger's barn", about people who quarrel over things they do not own)
* είπε ο γάιδαρος τον πετεινό κεφάλα (eípe o gáidaros ton peteinó kefála, “the pot calling the kettle black”) (literally: "the donkey called the rooster big-headed")
* ήταν στραβό το κλήμα, τό ’φαγε κι ο γάιδαρος (ítan stravó to klíma, tó ’fage ki o gáidaros, “the final nail in the coffin”) (literally: "the vine was crooked, then the donkey ate it")
* κάποιου του χαρίζανε γάιδαρο κι αυτός τον κοίταζε στα δόντια (kápoiou tou charízane gáidaro ki aftós ton koítaze sta dóntia, “Don't look a gift horse in the mouth”) (literally: "they were gifting someone a donkey and he/she was looking at its teeth", about nitpickers)
* μαντζουράνα στο κατώφλι, γάιδαρος στα κεραμίδια (mantzourána sto katófli, gáidaros sta keramídia) (literally: "marjoram on the doorstep and donkey on the roof tiles", about illogical things)
* παλιός γάιδαρος καινούρια περπατησιά δε μαθαίνει (paliós gáidaros kainoúria perpatisiá de mathaínei, “you can't teach an old dog new tricks”) (literally: "an old donkey doesn't learn a new way of walking")
* (σιγά) μη στάξει η ουρά του γαϊδάρου (mi stáxei i ourá tou gaïdárou) (about people who pay attention to lesser details when there are more important things to care about) (literally: "don't make water drip off the donkey's tail")
* φάγαμε τον γάιδαρο, στην ουρά θα σταματήσουμε; (fágame ton gáidaro, stin ourá tha stamatísoume?) (literally: "we've eaten the donkey, are we going to stop at the tail?", about situations in which the better part of the evil has been done and stopping would be illogical)

#### Related terms

* γκαρίζω (gkarízo, “bray”)
* μουλάρι n (moulári, “mule”)
* άλογο n (álogo, “horse”)

### References

* ↑ γάδαρος in the Diccionario Griego–Español en línea (2006–2018)
* ↑ γάιδαρος - Kriaras, Emmanuel (1969-) Επιτομή του Λεξικού της Μεσαιωνικής Ελληνικής Δημώδους Γραμματείας (Epitomí tou Lexikoú tis Mesaionikís Ellinikís Dimódous Grammateías) [Concise Dictionary of the Kriaras' Dictionary of Medieval Vulgar Greek Literature (1100–1669) Vols. 1–14. Vols 15- under I. Kazazes.)] (in Greek), Thessaloniki: Centre for the Greek language Online edition (abbreviations) Printed edition 2022: 22 vols.)
* ↑ γαϊδάριον is found: * at Liddell-Scott and DGE at LOGEION. * It is mentioned at many dictionaries of Modern Greek (Institute Triantafyllidis, Babiniotis).
* ↑ Arabic origin from ga(i)dar, mentioned in: *γάιδαρος, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language * γάιδαρος - Babiniotis, Georgios (2002) Λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας: […] [Dictionary of Modern Greek (language)] (in Greek), 2nd edition, Athens: Kentro Lexikologias [Lexicology Centre], 1st edition 1998, →ISBN. * Liddell-Scott at LOGEION
* ↑ Lagarde, Paul de (1866) Gesammelte Abhandlungen (in German), Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus, pages 54–55 Nr. 142
* ↑ Bailey, H. W. (1979) Dictionary of Khotan Saka, Cambridge, London, New York, Melbourne: Cambridge University press, pages 70b–71a
* ↑ Hindi origin meaning “gypsy” mentioned at γάιδαρος - Kriaras, Emmanuel (1969-) Επιτομή του Λεξικού της Μεσαιωνικής Ελληνικής Δημώδους Γραμματείας (Epitomí tou Lexikoú tis Mesaionikís Ellinikís Dimódous Grammateías) [Concise Dictionary of the Kriaras' Dictionary of Medieval Vulgar Greek Literature (1100–1669) Vols. 1–14. Vols 15- under I. Kazazes.)] (in Greek), Thessaloniki: Centre for the Greek language Online edition (abbreviations) Printed edition 2022: 22 vols.). His source: Karapatosoglou, Kostas (1984)Κυπριακά έτυμα [Cypriot etyma]
* ↑ γάιδαρος at en.academic.com retr:2018.08.03.
* ↑ αείδαρος - Kriaras, Emmanuel (1969-) Επιτομή του Λεξικού της Μεσαιωνικής Ελληνικής Δημώδους Γραμματείας (Epitomí tou Lexikoú tis Mesaionikís Ellinikís Dimódous Grammateías) [Concise Dictionary of the Kriaras' Dictionary of Medieval Vulgar Greek Literature (1100–1669) Vols. 1–14. Vols 15- under I. Kazazes.)] (in Greek), Thessaloniki: Centre for the Greek language Online edition (abbreviations) Printed edition 2022: 22 vols.)

### Further reading

* γάιδαρος on the Greek Wikipedia.Wikipedia $^{el}$