Greek fire
2
9.9
- noun
:
fuego griego
- Historically, Greek fire was a secret weapon that helped defend Constantinople from many assaults.
- Greek fire was used
Examples
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During battles, Greek fire became infamous for its ability to ignite when wet, causing panic among enemy troops.
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Typically, these large Greek fire siphons were mounted to the prowl of a Byzantine droman.
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This evolution seems to have eventually produced the so-called Greek fire originally developed in the Near East.
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Save the Greek fire.
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Callinicus, a seventh-century Jewish refugee in Constantinople, invented Greek fire, an incendiary liquid that could be shot from siphons toward enemy ships or troops.
Academic text (1998) -
The Byzantine navy effectively used Greek fire to devastating effect against invading ships.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The parts 'Greek' (pertaining to Greece) and 'fire' (burning) make it clear to a B1 learner that the phrase refers to a kind of fire associated with Greeks, but they would not be able to derive the specialized historical meaning (a specific incendiary weapon that burned on water and was used in warfare). The term is therefore only partially predictable from its constituents and requires cultural/historical knowledge, so it is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
Greek fire names a famous weapon used by the Byzantine Greeks: the word Greek shows who used it and fire points to a secret oily liquid that stuck to wood and kept burning even on water, so sailors could set enemy ships on fire. That's why Greek fire refers to that deadly 'weapon' which could 'burn on water'.