ἤλεκτρον

ἤλεκτρον, τό, and ἤλεκτρος, ὁ or ἡ (gender indeterminate in Hom., Hes., and Pl., neut. in Hdt. 3.115, Thphr. HP 9.18.2, Ti.Locr. 102a, masc. in S. Ant. 1038 codd., Eust.ad D.P. 293, fem. in Ar. Eq. 532, Alex. Aphr.Pr.Praef.), A. amber (cf. Ἠλεκτρίδες) , [ὅρμος] μετὰ . . ἠλέκτροισιν (i.e. pieces of amber) ἔερτο Od. 15.460, cf. 18.296, Hdt. 3.115, Pl. Ti. 80c, Phld. Sign. 1, D.L. 1.24, etc.; ἠλέκτρου λιβάδες A.R. 4.606. II. an alloy of gold and silver, χρυσοῦ τʼ ἠλέκτρου τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἠδʼ ἐλέφαντος Od. 4.73, cf. Hes. Sc. 142, Hom. Epigr. 15.10, Pytheas ap.Ath. 11.465d; τἀπὸ Σάρδεων ἤ. S. Ant. 1038 (cj.): in pl., of the pegs of a lyre, ἐκπιπτουσῶν τῶν ἠλέκτρων Ar. Eq. 532. (The two senses are difficult to distinguish in early Poetry; cf. Paus. 5.12.7, Plin. HN 33.80, 37.31. The word is connected with ἠλέκτωρ.)