τεμπεσίρι
Greek
Etymology
From Ottoman Turkish تباشیر (tebeşir, “chalk”), itself from Persian تباشیر (tebāšīr, “chalk, clay; bamboo sugar”), ultimately from Hindi तबाशीर (tabāśīr, “tabasheer; bamboo manna”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /teˈbesiri/
- Hyphenation: τε‧μπε‧σί‧ρι
Noun
τεμπεσίρι • (tempesíri) n (plural τεμπεσίρια)
- a piece of chalk used for writing on a blackboard (dated)
- Synonym: κιμωλία (kimolía)
- cue chalk used in billiards
- (informal) the act of buying on credit
- Synonym: βερεσέ (veresé)
Usage notes
The literal meaning borrowed from Ottoman Turkish "chalk" is used commonly in reference to billiard cue chalk only. The figurative sense of "buying on credit" is also in use and originates from the custom of shopkeepers keeping track of items bought on credit with a chalk and blackboard; when used in that sense, the noun is uncountable.
Declension
declension of τεμπεσίρι
| singular | plural | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | τεμπερσίρι • | τεμπερσίρια • | |
| genitive | τεμπεσιριού • | τεμπεσιριών • | |
| accusative | τεμπερσίρι • | τεμπερσίρια • | |
| vocative | τεμπερσίρι • | τεμπερσίρια • | |
| The plural forms are used only for the literal meaning of "chalk, cue chalk". | |||
Derived terms
- γράφω τεμπεσίρι (gráfo tempesíri, “to not care about something that has been lent or is owed”) (literally: "to write (with) chalk")
- έχω την πλάκα, έχω και το τεμπεσίρι (écho tin pláka, écho kai to tempesíri, “to have all tools necessary for an activity, usually one carried out with proficiency”) (literally: "to have the blackboard and to have the chalk, too")
Further reading
- τεμπεσίρι in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.