πρῷρα

A. forepart of a ship, prow, εἰς ἴκρια νηὸς πρῴρης Od. 12.230 (here prob. adjectival with νηός), cf. Hdt. ll.cc., etc.; πνεῦμα τοὐκ πρῴρας a contrary wind, opp. κατὰ πρύμναν, S. Ph. 639.

2. metaph., πρῷρα βιότου the prow of life's vessel, i.e. early youth, E. Tr. 103 (anap.); ὦ πρῷρα λοιβῆς Ἑστία thou who art first entitled to it, S. Fr. 726; πάροιθεν πρῴρας . . καρδίας before my heart's prow, in front of my heart, A. Ch. 390 (lyr.).

3. end of a vinebranch, Thphr. HP 2.1.3 (cj. in CP 3.14.7). (Written πρώρρα in Plb. 8.6.1, al., but πρωιρ‐ in PSI 4.382.2 (iii B.C.), cf. πρῳρατικός; κυανοπρωΐρους [] is cited by EM 692.32 from Hom., and κυανοπρώϊραν from Simon. 241: hence πρῷρα is prob. contr. from a word of the form , but whether from Πρώειρα, as inferred by Hdn. Gr.2.410, is doubtful; perh. from Πρώαιρα, cf. νείαιρα; ‐πρωιρ‐ in Hom. and Simon. may have arisen by 'distraction' of the contracted form.)