mizithra

English

Alternative forms

• misíthra

Noun

mizithra (uncountable)

1. A Greek unpasteurized cheese made from sheep’s or goat’s milk.
   • 1830, William Martin Leake, Travels in the Morea: With a Map and Plans, volume 1, chapter 11: “Messenia — Arcadia”, pages 487–488

     The man with whom we take shelter has his wife and children, and his sons’ wives and all their children, to the number of twelve or fifteen, in the tent. Milk and misíthra is their only food: “We have milk in plenty,” they tell me, “but no bread.” Such is the life of a modern Arcadian shepherd, who has almost reverted to the balanephagous state of his primitive ancestorsᵃ. The children, however, all look healthy, and are handsome, having large black eyes and regular features, with very dark complexions.

     ᵃ Ἀρκάδες Ἀζᾶνες βαλανηφάγοι, οἳ φιγάλειαν Νάσσασθ᾽, &c. — Orac[ulum] Pyth[iæ] ap[ud] Pausan[ian de] Arcad[iâ in] c[apite] 42.

     ᵃ Azanian Arcadians, acorn-eaters, who dwell in Phigaleia, &c. — Oracle of Pythia in the writings of Pausanias on Arcadia in chapter 42.