Etymologically
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ala

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈaː.ɫa][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.la][1]

Forms

āla f (genitive ālae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is contracted from an earlier *axla, from axis “axle”, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- (“axis”), and is related to āxilla “armpit”.[1][2][3][4] The OLD compares Old English eaxl (“shoulder”) and Sanskrit अक्ष (ákṣa-, “axle”).[2] Cicero notes the contraction of ⟨axilla⟩ to ⟨āla⟩.[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Ennius, of a bird's wing.[2] Köbler's first source is Plautus.[6] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant the wing of a bird or insect, also of gods and heroes, and in poetry a symbol of speed or an attribute of night, as in Virgil.[2] It meant the upper arm, the armpit, as in Plautus, a fish's fin, a section of a sail, and the axil of a branch.[2] In war it meant the wing of an army, as in Sallust, a unit of auxiliary troops, as in Cato, and a squadron of cavalry, as in Nepos.[2] In architecture it meant a recess beside the atrium or the aisle of a temple, as in Vitruvius.[2] Döderlein says āla is the wing as a joint, penna the wing as feathers.[7]

In Ecclesiastical and Medieval Latin it meant a wing, and figuratively shelter, protection.[8][9] It survives in Italian and Spanish ala and French aile.[1] Through Old French ele it is the source of English aisle in the late 14th century.[4]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of a wing.[2][6]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the armpit.[2][6]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of auxiliary troops.[2][6]
  • late 14th century – English aisle is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A wing.[2]
  2. The upper arm; the armpit.[2]
  3. A fin; a section of a sail.[2]
  4. The wing of an army; an auxiliary unit; a cavalry squadron.[2]
  5. (architecture) A side recess; an aisle.[2]
  6. (Medieval Latin) Protection.[9]

Word family

  • ālipēs
  • ālāris
  • ālārius
  • ālātus
  • āles
  • alicula
  • alifer
  • āliger
  • ālipilus
  • āxilla
  • ascella

Usage notes

In Medieval Latin a homograph ala, from Old English, meant ale, beer.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  9. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill