ΜΕΛΆΣ

The Greek word "melas" meaning "black" is well known, but its origin is not. No one has yet thought to compare it to the Georgian word "melniani" (მელნიანი) - "ink", "containing ink". While the Greeks do not say anything about the etymology of "melas", the Georgians say it openly: "melniani" comes from the word "mela" (მელა) - "Indian lily" (Melia azedarach), a plant used to produce ink. All this gives us the right to claim that the Greek word "melas" is a derivative of the Georgian "mela", and not vice versa.