zoccola

Forms

zoccola f (plural zoccole)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Neapolitan zoccula in Devoto–Oli's view, a southern word unknown in Tuscany.^[2][3][4] Most dictionaries derive it from Vulgar Latin *sorcula, a feminine diminutive of Latin sorex (“mouse”), with ⟨rc⟩ assimilated to ⟨cc⟩.^{[4][5][3][6][2]} DEI compares the Abruzzese and Marchigiano type sorca “rat, mole”.^[2] Sabatini–Coletti and Treccani add that the word was crossed with zoccolo “clog”, in its figurative pejorative sense.^[7][8] Zingarelli and Gabrielli derive it from that word alone, used as an insult.^[9][10]

sorex also gave sorice and sorcio.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

DEI finds the word in the Neapolitan area for the mole and in Apulia for the rat, a sense already in Lombardi in 1674.^[2] Sabatini–Coletti and Zingarelli date the Italian word to before 1886, and the GDLI's earliest quotation, from Imbriani, is about a big sewer rat caught alive.^[7][9][6] GRADIT dates it to 1953, in Palazzeschi's Roma.^[5]

Semantic evolution

From the rat the word passed in slang to a prostitute or a woman judged to behave like one, also as an insult.^[2][6][8] The GDLI quotes it in this sense from Gadda, Moravia and Bianciardi.^[6] Diminutive and pejorative forms such as zoccoletta and zoccolaccia are used in the second sense only.^[8]

Timeline

• 1674 – The rat sense is recorded in Lombardi.^[2]
• Before 1886 – The word is first recorded in Italian.^[7][9]
• 1953 – Palazzeschi uses it in Roma.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (southern regional) A sewer rat.^{[5][3][9][8][1]}
2. (vulgar, derogatory) A prostitute, or a woman judged promiscuous, also used as an insult.^{[5][3][8][6][1]}

Word family

• zoccoletta
• zoccolaccia
• zoccolona

Related words

• zoccolo
• sorca
• sorcio
• sorice
• Latin sorex

Usage notes

The GDLI also has a separate zoccola, an old and regional feminine form of zoccolo “clog”.^[6] The first consonant is /ts/, and Zingarelli also allows /dz/.^[11][9]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Battisti, Carlo; Alessio, Giovanni (1950–1957), Dizionario etimologico italiano, 5 vols., Firenze: Barbèra (reprint 1975), p. 4118
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b c d e De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
6. ^ a b c d e f Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
7. ^ a b c Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse
8. ^ 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)
9. ^ a b c d e Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
10. ^ Gabrielli, Aldo (2020), Grande dizionario italiano, digital ed., Milano: Hoepli
11. ^ Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana