Vandalus

Forms

Vandalus m (genitive Vandalī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a Germanic tribal name, borrowed from Proto-Germanic *wandilaz.^[1][2] Wiktionary traces this to Proto-Indo-European *wendʰ- (“to turn, wind, braid”),^[1] and Köbler compares *wandōn (“to turn”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records the name from Tacitus, for a Vandal.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In the plural it named the Vandals, the people who invaded Spain and Africa and founded a kingdom at Carthage;^[3] Vopiscus uses the plural.^[3] As an adjective, “of the Vandals”, it is found in Sidonius and Jordanes.^[3][4] Medieval writers in Britain used it of the Germanic tribe that invaded Western Europe in the 4th and 5th centuries.^[5] Figuratively it could mean “fierce”.^[6]

The Late Latin name is the source of Italian vandalo.^[4]

Timeline

• 98–115 AD – Tacitus names the people.^[2]
• c. 431–486 AD – Sidonius uses Vandalus as an adjective.^[3][4][2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A Vandal; in the plural, the Vandals.^[1][3][5]
2. (figurative) A fierce person.^[6]

Adjective

1. Of the Vandals, Vandalic.^[3][4][7]

Related words

• English Vandal

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b Victionarium (Latin Wiktionary), la.wiktionary.org
7. ^ VoLat: Vocabolario della Lingua Latina (2018), Milan: Hoepli