Etymologically
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allocatio

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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