Μορμώ,όος, contr.
οῦς, alsoΜορμών,όνος,ἡ,
A. 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 δεόμεθ' . . τῆς σῆς μορμόνος
Id. Pax 474
(both times of Lamachus' helmet and crest);φοβεῖσθαι τοὺς πελταστάς, ὥσπερ μορμόνας(-ῶναςcodd.) 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 figfor his courage!, Ar. Eq. 693 . (Perh. cogn. with Lat.formido, wherefis due to dissimilation, cf.μορφή, μύρμηξ.)