Hemp seeds.
Name - Origin
Κανναβούρι, σπόροι κάνναβης (κανναβόσπορος), κανναβίς.
George Loukas in his Glossary notes that the word Kannaourin also means the small ox, "bearing the colour of cannavida" (Kypri 1979 [2002²], entry κανναούριν,το, 188). Yangoullis in his Thesaurus of the Cypriot Dialect also notes this (Yangoullis 2009, entry καννάβιν,το, 177).
Hemp seeds used to be consumed when roasted (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry κανναούριν,το, 156).
Functional and symbolic role
The fruit of the cannabis plant, which is used as food for songbirds (Babiniotis 2005, entry κανναβούρι (το), 831). Hemp seeds were used in Eastern lands (Syria, Cyprus and elsewhere) instead of sesame seeds for sprinkling on bread and other baked goods (Gennadios 1914, 461).
The roasted hemp seeds were sold as a kind of snack by the Ottomans in the streets of the cities (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry κανναούριν,το, 156).
Additional information and bibliography
They were sold for half a piastre per 25-40 drams (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry κανναούριν,το, 156).
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, Paraskevas Leonis Printing House, 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.) (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.
Babiniotis G. (2005), Dictionary of Modern Greek Language. With comments on the correct use of words. Interpretative, Orthographic, Etymological, Synonyms, Main Names, Scientific Terms, Acronyms, Centre for Lexicology, Athens, Greece.
Stalo Lazarou, Savvas Polyviou, Argyro Xenophontos