Meaning & History
Possibly derived from the possessive masculine prefix ⲡⲁ- (pa-) and genetive marker ⲛ (n) combined with either ⲉⲓⲛⲉ (eine) "chain, fetter" or ⲉⲓⲛⲉ "thumb", the former giving the meaning "he of the chain; guardian", the latter "he of the thumbs", referring to the story of the Coptic saint Symphronios, who was called Panine after his broken thumbs were miraculously healed.