Μορμώ
Μορμώ, she-monster, bogey
Μορμώ, όος, contr. οῦς, also Μορμών, όνος, ἡ,
- she-monster, bogey, dub. in Erinn. in PSI 9.1090.51 + 11 (p. xii); used by nurses to frighten children, Luc. Philops. 2: generally, bugbear, ἀπένεγκέ μου τὴν μορμόνα Ar. Ach. 582; οὐδὲν δεόμεθʼ . . τῆς σῆς μορμόνος Id. Pax 474 (both times of Lamachus’ helmet and crest); φοβεῖσθαι τοὺς πελταστάς, ὥσπερ μορμόνας (-ῶνας codd.) παιδάρια X. HG 4.4.17.
- II as an exclamation to frighten children with, boh!, μορμώ, δάκνει ἵππος Theoc. 15.40; μορμὼ τοῦ θράσους a fig for his courage!, Ar. Eq. 693. (Perh. cogn. with Lat. formido, where f is due to dissimilation, cf. μορφή, μύρμηξ.)
Μορμώ, and Μορμών, όνος, ἡ,
- Ia hideous she-monster, used by nurses to frighten children with, Luc.: generally, a bugbear, Ar., Xen.
- IIas an exclamation to frighten children with, boh! μορμώ, δάκνει ἵππος Theocr.; μορμὼ τοῦ θράσους a fig for his courage! Ar.