Etymology of the Hoplite

[Parmenion]

In the text description of hoplites troops it states that the word hoplite derives from the word 'hoplon' which is the large shield the soldier carried.
'Makes sense' I thought, until I was browisng Wikipedia and saw this entry :

"Warfare in Hellenic Greece centered mainly around heavy infantrymen called hoplites. The word hoplite (Greek ὁπλίτης, hoplitēs) derives from hoplon (ὅπλον, plural hopla, ὅπλα) meaning an item of armour or equiment, but not the circular shield carried by a hoplite, which is incorrectly referred to as a hoplon. In fact it is called an aspis."

So what is the real meaning of the word 'Hoplon'?

[Catiline]

wikipedia is spot on, there's not much more to say really. A hoplite is simply an armoured soldier.

[Revelation]

The word hoplite (Greek ὁπλίτης, hoplitēs) derives from hoplon (ὅπλον, plural hopla, ὅπλα) meaning an item of armour or equiment, but not the circular shield carried by a hoplite, which is incorrectly referred to as a hoplon.

That is debateable.
For every article of text that says this I can refer you to 10 that say differently.
This one

Or this

And here

and thats only a quick 2 min google search. I could also point you in the direction of numerous books on the subject but as my wife is standing over me threatening violence if I dont ....."get my ass of the computer and come and have dinner" so it will have to wait until later when I can play with the edit button.

[Catiline]

And they're all wrong, based on the same misconception. It's one of those things that is stated as gospel all over the web, and in every poorly researched book on greek warfare...

My modern Greek isn't up to scratch, so hoplon might be synonymos with shield now, but not in ancient greek. Hoplon could be used to refer to a shield, as part of a panoply of armour, but it's not specific, and it's not the name of the shield.

[hellenes]

And they're all wrong, based on the same misconception. It's one of those things that is stated as gospel all over the web, and in every poorly researched book on greek warfare...

My modern Greek isn't up to scratch, so hoplon might be synonymos with shield now, but not in ancient greek. Hoplon could be used to refer to a shield, as part of a panoply of armour, but it's not specific, and it's not the name of the shield.

100% correct..

ΟΠΛΟ means WEAPON so ΟΠΛΙΤΗΣ means MAN AT ARMS
heh we call our privates even today ΟΠΛΙΤΕΣ...
SHIELD in ancient and modern greek is ΑΣΠΙΣ/ΑΣΠΙΔΑ...

Hellenes

[Periklis]

100% correct..

ΟΠΛΟ means WEAPON so ΟΠΛΙΤΗΣ means MAN AT ARMS
heh we call our privates even today ΟΠΛΙΤΕΣ...
SHIELD in ancient and modern greek is ΑΣΠΙΣ/ΑΣΠΙΔΑ...

Hellenes

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

BELIVE OUR WORD WE ARE GREEK.

[vastator]

100% correct..

ΟΠΛΟ means WEAPON so ΟΠΛΙΤΗΣ means MAN AT ARMS
heh we call our privates even today ΟΠΛΙΤΕΣ...
SHIELD in ancient and modern greek is ΑΣΠΙΣ/ΑΣΠΙΔΑ...

Hellenes

I seem to recall reading a long time ago that even in modern Greek the word for "deserter" is "ripsaspis", referring to the necessity of dumping the heavy shield to do a runner. Is that correct?

[Revelation]

and in every poorly researched book on greek warfare

Thats where you lost me. Guess you've written a few "well researched" tiltes then?
It's just to much of an effort to respond to that one!

[Catiline]

nope, you've got me there. If we're going to discuss my credentials to make that sort of statement though, I do however have a degree in Ancient History and an Masters degree in Classics. I'm happy enough that qualifies me to at least make some comment on the quality of research in modern writing on the ancient world...

It's on a par with all the websites and books that tell you a vomitorium was somewhere the Romans went to puke during meals.

[bodidley]

That is debateable.
For every article of text that says this I can refer you to 10 that say differently.
This one

Or this

And here

and thats only a quick 2 min google search. I could also point you in the direction of numerous books on the subject

Google is full of popular history and not usually a great source for the nitty-gritty facts