ciotola

Forms

ciotola f (plural ciotole)^[1] The shorter ciota is recorded from the 15th century, in Luca Pulci.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin cotyla (“a cup without handles”), from Ancient Greek κοτύλη (kotúlē, “cup, small bowl”).^[5][6][7][1] DELI calls the origin of the Greek word uncertain.^[5] The first syllable is explained by a crossing with cyathus (“ladle, cup”), from κύαθος (kúathos): Nocentini, the DEI, Devoto–Oli and GRADIT accept this influence, GRADIT with a “perhaps”.^[6][2][8][7] Wiktionary sets up a Vulgar Latin *cytula, with ⟨y⟩ pronounced /i̯u/, or *cyatula after the word for “ladle”;^[1][4][9] Prati also starts from a Late Latin form of this kind.^[1][4][9]

The word has a close cognate in Romanian ciutură (“wooden drinking vessel”).^[6][9][2] In the south there are ciòtula (“drinking cup”) in Sicily and the same form in Calabria.^[2] Sabatini–Coletti calls this the popular form beside the learned cotile.^[10]

Earliest recorded meaning

DELI's first record is in the vernacular Crescenzi of about 1350, for the quantity a bowl holds: a ciotola of vinegar to a measure of must.^[5][11][12] The TLIO's first record, for the vessel itself, is in the Tuscan Fioretti di San Francesco (1370–1390), in a list of tablecloths, jugs, bowls and glasses.^[13][5][3]

Semantic evolution

In the Renaissance the wooden ciotola also held money, and wooden bowls measured out the water given to those who fasted.^[3][11][4] Dictionaries of the 19th century describe it as a footless drinking bowl holding a little more than a glass, and also as a broth bowl.^[11]

In old anatomy ciotola was the hip socket, the acetabolo;^[14][2][7] Monti used it.^[14][2][7] In Tuscany paiono ciotole was said of shoes that are too large.^[14][7]

Timeline

• c. 1350 – The vernacular Crescenzi uses ciotola for the contents of a bowl.^[5]
• 1370–1390 – The Fioretti di San Francesco use it for the bowl itself.^[13]
• 15th century – The short form ciota appears.^[2]
• 19th century – The derivative ciotolata is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bowl: a small round vessel without handles, of earthenware, wood, metal or plastic, for food or drink: la ciotola del gatto.^{[7][8][10][1]}
2. A bowlful, the contents of such a vessel: una ciotola di minestra.^[7][8][12]
3. (Tuscany, usually plural) A shoe that is too big.^[7][14]
4. (anatomy, obsolete) The acetabulum, the socket of the hip bone.^[7][8][14]

Word family

• ciotolata
• ciotolina
• ciotolone

Related words

• cotile
• Latin cotyla
• Ancient Greek κοτύλη (kotúlē)

Usage notes

The DEI treats the anatomical ciotola as a separate adaptation of Greek kotýlē after the common word.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Battisti, Carlo; Alessio, Giovanni (1950–1957), Dizionario etimologico italiano, 5 vols., Firenze: Barbèra (reprint 1975), p. 952
3. ^ a b c Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
4. ^ a b c d Prati, Angelico (1951), Vocabolario etimologico italiano, Milano: Garzanti, p. 295
5. ^ a b c d e Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
6. ^ a b c Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
8. ^ a b c d Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
9. ^ a b c Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
10. ^ a b Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse
11. ^ a b c Tommaseo, Niccolò; Bellini, Bernardo (1861–1879), Dizionario della lingua italiana, 4 vols., Torino: UTET
12. ^ a b Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
13. ^ a b Tesoro della Lingua Italiana delle Origini (1997–), Opera del Vocabolario Italiano, CNR, Firenze; tlio.ovi.cnr.it
14. ^ a b c d e Duro, Aldo (ed.) (1986–1994), Vocabolario della lingua italiana, Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana; online ed. treccani.it/vocabolario (2008 copy)