Varieties of apricots.
Name - Origin
These are varieties of apricots (Yangoullis 2009, entry καϊσ̆ίν,το, 168; Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Καϊσί, 48): the fruit of kais̆iá tree (Kypri 1989, entry καϊσίν,το, 425) and the fruit of chrysomilia tree.
Xenophon P. Pharmakidis notes for kaïsin that it is a variety of delicious and succulent apricot, the kernel of which is sweet (Kypri 1989 [2003²], entry καϊσ̆ιά,τα, 14).
ETYM. kaïsin < turkish kayisi (Yangoullis 2009, entry καϊσ̆ίν,το, 168; Kypri 1979 [2002²], entry χρυσόμηλον,το, 515). Chrysomilia (variety of apricot tree) < Italian crisomeli, crisomoli (Yangoullis 2009, entry χρυσομηλιά,η, 531)
Scientific name of kaïsi: Armenica vulgaris (Kypri 1989 [2003²], entry καϊσ̆ιά,τα, 14).
plural of kaïsin: kaïs̆iá, the tree: kaïs̆iá (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry καϊσ̆ιά,τα, 14)
Metaphorically, a woman with rosy cheeks is called kaïs̆iá. In Paphos there was a woman with the surname Kaïs̆iá, because of her rosy cheeks (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry καϊσ̆ιά,τα, 14).
dim. chrysomilo: chrysomiloudin, the tree: chrysomilia - dim. chrysomilouda (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry χρυσόμηλα,τα, 45)
Additional information and bibliography
Kaïs̆ia are a specific variety of apricots, and certain varieties are called glykokókkones as their kernels are sweet (Gennadios 1914, 192).
Chrysomilopitta: a stack of thin layers of chrysomilo pulp (Gennadios 1914, 193).
Gennadios P. G. (1914), Λεξικόν φυτολογικόν: Περιλαμβάνον τα ονόματα, την ιθαγένειαν και τον βίον υπερδεκασχιλίων φυτών, εν οις και τα λόγω χρησιμότητος ή κόσμου καλλιεργούμενα, των οποίων περιγράφονται και η ιστορία, η καλλιέργεια, τα προϊόντα και αι νόσοι, Printing House of Paraskevas Leonis, Athens.
Yangoullis K. G. (2009), Thesaurus of the Cypriot dialect. Interpretative, Etymological, Phraseological and Nomenclatural Dictionary of the Medieval and Modern Cypriot Dialect, Theopress Publications, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1979 [2002²]), Materials for the compilation of a historical dictionary of the Cypriot dialect, Part A, Glossary of George Loukas, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XLI, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1983 [2003²]), Materials for the compilation of a historical dictionary of the Cypriot dialect, Part B, Glossary of Xenophon P. Pharmakides, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, IX, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1989), Materials for the compilation of a historical dictionary of the Cypriot dialect, Part C, Glossary of Ioannis Erotokritos, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XIV, Nicosia.
Petrou-Poeitou E. (2013), Where do they come from. Words and stories from the world of taste, Epiphaniou Publications, Nicosia.
Savvas Polyviou, Argyro Xenophontos, Tonia Ioakim, Argyro Xenophontos