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The wind [sc. of that name].[1] Also [sc. attested is] Νοτόθεν ["south-westerly"], [meaning] from [the] south-west.[2]
Also [sc. attested is the phrase] Νότον καύσωνα ["south-western heat"].[3]
The etymology of Νότος [is] from the [verb] ὀνῶ , [future] ὀνόσω , the one [which means] I blame and I harm; or from the [noun] νοτίς , which is moisture. But more cleverly he understood who said that it is Attic for νόσος ["disease"], as by comparison with Βορρᾶς ["Boreas, north wind"] which is suitable for health.[4]

Νότος: ὁ ἄνεμος. καὶ Νοτόθεν, ἀπὸ Νότου. καὶ Νότον καύσωνα. ἐτυμολογία νότου παρὰ τὸ ὀνῶ, ὀνόσω, τὸ μέμφομαι καὶ βλάπτω: ἢ παρὰ τὴν νοτίδα, ὅ ἐστιν ὑγρασίαν. ἀστειότερον δὲ ἐπέβαλεν ὁ εἰπὼν αὐτὸν Ἀττικὴν εἶναι νόσον, ὡς πρὸς σύγκρισιν τοῦ Βορρᾶ, εὐθέτου ὄντος πρὸς ὑγίειαν.

[1] cf. ps.-Herodian 93 and (according to Adler) Ambrosian Lexicon 330.
[2] νότοθεν occurs in e.g. Plato's will, as quoted by Diogenes Laertius (3.41-42, twice); used there as a topographical marker, of one piece of land bordering another on that side. Also attested in astronomical texts. Adler indicates the rest of this entry as interpolation.
[3] The source of this phrase (in the accusative case) is unknown.
[4] cf. Etymologicum Magnum 607.39. The verb cited as ὀνῶ is ὄνομαι "I find fault." On Boreas the north wind, see beta 390. Needless to say, νότος is not Attic for νόσος (on which see nu 495).

David Whitehead (expanded n.2; more keywords; tweaks and cosmetics) on 18 October 2009@04:35:54.
Catharine Roth (augmented note 4) on 19 October 2009@10:00:46.

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