Since the ancient Greek word has a lot of literal uses meaning things like "bar for keeping things strainght" or "reference line", it seems to me rather unlikely that it derives from an Arabic word with a more abstract meaning. In general, I am unaware that there was much direct linguistic transmission from Arabic to ancient (rather than Byzantine) Greek: if there is a relationship between the words, it seems likely to be much more oblique. Myopic Bookworm
Source?
edit... this article looks like it's been copied out of dictionaries... 131.151.26.135 23:11, 18 September 2009 (UTC)
- Some of our entries are based on very old dictionaries that are no longer copyrighted. In this case, I think it's original content. Have you seen the same definitions somewhere else that didn't take them from Wiktionary? Equinox ◑ 23:14, 18 September 2009 (UTC)
Possible missing sense
editChambers 1908 has "one bound by certain vows over and above those binding upon regular members of his community, a canon regular". Is this the same as our existing sense "a member of a cathedral chapter..."? Equinox ◑ 23:51, 12 May 2019 (UTC)