ἄσχυ <Unspecified origin; Classical period>
👉 ἄσχυ n. – ‘inspissated juice of the fruit of the “Pontic tree”, i.e., perhaps, bird-cherry (Prunus padus L.)’ (Hdt. 4.23) and ‘a substance distilled from a tree’ (Theognost., Can. 79.12).
⚠ Hdt. 4.23 reports that a tribe in Scythia (however, speaking a language different from Scythian) produces a fruit juice named aschy: Ποντικὸν μὲν οὔνομα τῷ δενδρέῳ ἀπ' οὗ ζώουσι, μέγαθος δὲ κατὰ συκέην μάλιστά κῃ· καρπὸν δὲ φορέει κυάμῳ ἴσον, πυρῆνα δὲ ἔχει. Τοῦτο ἐπεὰν γένηται πέπον, σακκέουσι ἱματίοισι, ἀπορρέει δὲ ἀπ' αὐτοῦ παχὺ καὶ μέλαν, οὔνομα δὲ τῷ ἀπορρέοντί ἐστι ἄσχυ· τοῦτο καὶ λείχουσι καὶ γάλακτι συμμίσγοντες πίνουσι, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς παχύτητος αὐτοῦ τῆς τρυγὸς παλάθας συντιθεῖσι καὶ ταύτας σιτέονται. – “The tree wherefrom they live is called ‘Pontic’; it is about the size of a fig-tree, and bears a fruit as big as a bean, with a stone in it. When this fruit is ripe, they strain it through cloth, and a thick black liquid flows from it, which they call aschy; they lick this up or mix it with milk for drinking, and of the thickest of the lees of it they make cakes, and eat them” (trans. A.D. Godley). Cf. Onasicritus (4th/3rd c. BCE) in: Plin., NH 12.34: Onesicritus tradit in Hyrcaniae convallibus fico similes esse arbores quae vocentur occhi, ex quibus defluat mel horis matutinis duabus. – “Onesicritus reports that in the valleys of Hyrcania there are trees resembling the fig, named occhus-trees, which for two hours every morning drip honey” (trans. H. Rackham); Hyrcania was a region located in the South-East of the Caspian Sea (today part of Iran and Turkmenistan).
🅔 An Oriental word without etymology. Cf. an unlikely juxtaposition with Tatar ačy, äče ‘bitter, sour’ and Bashkir asy, äse ‘id.’ (quoted with an alleged meaning ‘sour cherry juice’).
📖 Ref.: cf. Asheri – Lloyd – Corcella 2007: 598; Členova 1983: 55.