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[539] νειαίρηι, only with “γαστήρ” (also 616, 16.465, 17.519) conn. with “νέατος, νειόθι”, in the sense ‘lowest’ (root ni-, which is found in Skt. in the sense ‘down’). The ordinary derivation from “νέ”（“ϝ”）“ος” is untenable, as the local sense of “νέος” is not to be established from a few casual uses of Lat. novissimus, when it does not occur in all Greek, much less in Homer. “νέατος” (cf. 857, 9.153), it is true, is used occasionally in Attic Greek = “νεώτατος”, but this is likely enough to happen, as a word in universal use is always apt to attract to itself sporadic archaic forms which resemble it. For the fem. suffix “-αιρα” cf. “ἰοχέαιρα” (“πίειρα”). διὰ ζωστῆρος, as in 4.187. Here there seems to be neither “θώρηξ” nor “μίτρη”.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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