The figs that ripen first in May.
Name - Origin
These are the first figs to ripen (Yangoullis 2009, entry παπίλλαρος,ο, 340). George Loukas in his Glossary notes that this is the first large fig (Kypri 1979 [2002²], entry παπίλλαρος,ο, 357).
ETYM. < Latin papulla ( Yangoullis 2009, entry παπίλλαρος,ο, 340; Kypri 1979 [2002²], entry παπίλλαρος,ο, 357; PetrouPoeitou 2013, entry Παπίλλαρος, 109) or papule (Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Παπίλλαρος, 109) [the nipple of the breast] (Kypri 1979 [2002²], entry παπίλλαρος,ο, 357; Petrou-Poeitou 2013, entry Παπίλλαρος, 109) < French papillaire (Kypri 1979 [2002²], entry παπίλλαρος,ο, 357)
The word papillaros is synonymous with mantzilles - maxilles (Yangoullis 2009, entry παπίλλαρος,ο, 340).
According to Xenophon P. Pharmakidis, in Paphos, they are called papillari and in the rest of the island they are called matžílles (Kypri, 1983 [2003²], entry ματζ̆ίλλες, οι, 26).
Additional information and bibliography
Yangoullis K. G. (2009), Θησαυρός Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου. Ερμηνευτικό, Ετυμολογικό, Φρασεολογικό και Ονοματολογικό Λεξικό της Μεσαιωνικής και Νεότερης Κυπριακής Διαλέκτου, Βιβλιοθήκη Κυπρίων Λαϊκών Ποιητών, 70, Theopress Publications, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1979 [2002²]), Υλικά διά την σύνταξιν ιστορικού λεξικού της κυπριακής διαλέκτου, Μέρος Α΄, Γλωσσάριον Γεωργίου Λουκά, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, XLI, Nicosia.
Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1983 [2003²]), Υλικά διά την σύνταξιν ιστορικού λεξικού της κυπριακής διαλέκτου, Μέρος Β΄, Γλωσσάριον Ξενοφώντος Π. Φαρμακίδου, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, IX, Nicosia.
Petrou-Poeitou E. (2013), Από πού κρατάει η σκούφια τους. Λέξεις και ιστορίες από τον κόσμο της γεύσης, Epiphaniou Publications, Nicosia.
Argyro Xenophontos, Tonia Ioakim
Traditional Recipes
Marmelada syko - fig jam
"Wash and peel the figs and put them in a deep pot with the sugar. Press with the palm to form a mass. " (Sotira Kyriakou, Kyperounda)
Traditional Recipes
Spoon sweets - Fig
Primarily, unripe figs are used for the preparation of this sweet, which in Cypriot they are called koutsaka. Thus, the spoon sweet is also called fig-koutsako.
