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allocatio

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word allocatio

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1221, Close Rolls
Ultimate origin
Latin allocō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin loco
French louer
Latin alloco
Latin allocatio
English allocation
From the same root
Latin locatio ← loco

Forms

allocātiō f (genitive allocātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin allocō (“to place; to hire out; to allow”) + -tiō, a noun of action made from the medieval verb.[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest instance the DMLBS gives is from the English Close Rolls of 1221, where the king refers to his letters concerning an allowance at the Exchequer.[3] In the MLW its first use is a charter of 1259 from Thurgau, where it means leasing.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

In German and Swiss charters it meant leasing or hiring out, beside sale, gift and exchange.[4][2] British records use it for the hire of a thing, such as a prison or a horse; for an allowance credited in an account or an allowance of food; and in law for the acceptance of a plea or claim as valid, as in Bracton.[3] A French charter of 1380 quoted by Du Cange has it for the use of coins by merchants.[5] Wiktionary sums up its legal senses as allocation, leasing and allowance.[1]

Timeline

  • 1221 – The Close Rolls mention the king's letters for an allowance at the Exchequer.[3]
  • 1259 – A Thurgau charter lists it with gift, sale and exchange, meaning leasing.[4][2]
  • 1294 – The burgesses of Chesterfield are to pay nothing for the hire of the lord's prison.[3]
  • 1380 – A Lyon charter uses it for the use of the Dauphin's coins.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) Leasing, hiring out; hire.[4][2][3]
  2. (Medieval Latin) An allowance credited in an account; an allowance of food.[3][1]
  3. (Medieval Latin, law) The allowing of a plea or claim, its acceptance as valid.[3]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Use, employment (of money).[5]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Allocation.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 g 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
  4. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Allocatio.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/allocatio. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·