μόσχος / μοσχεύματα

Greek word meaning "calf." Lapide, citing Augustine, explains a translation difficulty in Wisdom 4:3 where moschevmata (shoots from a tree) was confused with a derivative of moschos (calf). The word moschevmata actually means shoots or propagations, new sprigs cut from a tree and planted in the ground.

Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture

• Chapter IV: The Judgments and Examples of the Fathers — Lapide, via Augustine, explains the Greek wordplay: the translator derives moschevmata from moschos, but moschevmata actually means shoots or propagations

  "the translator uses a Greek construction, and derives, as it were, from moschos (calf) the word moschevmata, that is, from "calf" the word "calf-slips"; but mischevmata are actually shoots or propagations, new sprigs cut from a tree and planted in the ground."