Where does “σφογγάρι” come from?

σφογγάρι (Greek) comes from Byzantine Greek σφουγγάριον, from Ancient Greek σπόγγος — sponge; tonsil.

Ancestry of “σφογγάρι”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Byzantine Greek	σφουγγάριον	—
2	Ancient Greek	σπόγγος	sponge; tonsil

σφογγάρι — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer