κοῦρος

κοῦρος (A), ὁ, Ep. and Ion. for κόρος (B) (q.v.).

κοῦρος (B), ὁ, (κείρω, κορσός)

• loppings, twigs stripped from a tree, μηδὲ ξύλα μηδὲ κοῦρον μηδὲ φρύγανα μηδὲ φυλλόβολα IG 2(2).1362.6.

κοῦρος, ὁ, ion. u. poet. = κόρος².

κοῦρος

-ου, ὁ

[perh. fr. κείρω, referring to a cutting of a lock from a boy’s head at the age of puberty.]

• • 1

    A young man, a youth Il. 1.470, Il. 4.321, Il. 9.175, Il. 15.284, Il. 20.405, Il. 21.27 : Od. 1.148, Od. 2.96, Od. 4.643, Od. 7.100, Od. 8.35, Od. 15.151, Od. 16.248, Od. 22.30, etc.

    With a qualifying sb. (cf. ἀνήρ 1(d)): κούρων θηρητήρων (hunters) Il. 17.726, κούρῳ αἰσυμνητῆρι (a youth that is a . . ., a youthful . . .) Il. 24.347. Cf. Il. 18.494.

    With an adj. reinforcing the idea of youthfulness : πρωθῆβαι Od. 8.262. Cf. Il. 24.347.

    So in voc. : κοῦροι νέοι (boys that you are) Il. 13.95.

  • 2

    One in youthful vigour, one fit to bear arms, a warrior : κούρους καδμείων προκαλίζετο Il. 5.807, κούροισι ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι Il. 9.68 (the general body of the host as opposed to the γέρουσιν of 70). Cf. Il. 4.393, Il. 9.86, Il. 12.196.

  • 3

    A male as opposed to a female : ὅν τινα γαστέρι μήτηρ κοῦρον ἐόντα φέροι Il. 6.59.

  • 4

    A son : κοῦρον ζήθοιο Od. 19.523.–κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν (like υἷες Ἀχαιῶν), the Achaeans, Achaeans Il. 1.473, Il. 2.562, Il. 3.82, 183, Il. 14.505, Il. 17.758, Il. 22.391 : Od. 24.54. Cf. ἐείκοσι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν (here app. implying youth) Od. 16.250.

    Sim. : κοῦροι βοιωτῶν Il. 2.510, κοῦροι Ἀθηναίων Il. 2.551.

κοῡρος

• 1son ἁ δὲ τίκτε θεόφρονα κοῦρον Iamos O. 6.41 πρόγονοι, ἀρχᾶθεν Ἰαπετιονίδος φύτλας κοῦροι κορᾶν O. 9.56 καί ποτε τὸν τρικάρανον Πτωίου κευθμῶνα κατέσχεθε κουρ[ (κοῦ[ρος supp. Snell, i. e. Teneros: κού[ρα Reitzenstein) fr. 51b.

κοῦρος : youth, boy, esp. of noble rank, so when applied to the attendants at sacrifices and banquets, as these were regularly the sons of princely houses, Il. 1.470, Od. 1.148; also implying vigorous youth, ability to bear arms, Il. 17.726; son, Od. 19.523.