asphaltum

Forms

asphaltum n (genitive asphaltī); second declension^[1][2] The older and commoner form is asphaltus, masculine or feminine, from Pelagonius (360 AD) on.^[2][3][1] Medieval spellings include aspaltum, asfaltum and aspalitum.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἄσφαλτος (ásphaltos, “asphalt, bitumen”),^[4][2][5] a neuter beside the more usual asphaltus.^[2][1] The DMLBS asks whether it was confused with ἀσπάλαθος (aspálathos), a thorny shrub,^[4] and the MLW notes that the two cannot always be told apart.^[1]

The Greek word is often explained as ἀ- (a-, “not”) with a verbal adjective of σφάλλω (sphállō, “to throw down”), as a material that keeps walls from falling;^[5] Etymonline reports that Beekes finds this weak, and that a Semitic or other foreign source has also been proposed.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler finds the neuter in glosses, where it translates Old English spaldor and Old High German harz;^[2] the masculine asphaltus is first used by the veterinary writer Pelagonius (360 AD).^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Latin writers called the substance by the native word bitūmen, which the glosses give as the translation;^[3][6] Bede notes that asphaltos is Greek and bitumen Latin.^[6] In Medieval Latin asphaltum was a term of medicine and alchemy for natural bitumen,^[1][4] described as a glue that neither iron nor water can loosen and as a kind of black gum.^[4] English asphalt goes back to it (early 14th century).^[5]

Timeline

• 360 AD – Pelagonius uses the masculine asphaltus.^[2][3]
• early 14th century – English asphalt, from Late Latin asphaltum.^[5]
• 1847 – English asphalt is first used of a paving mixture.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Late Latin, Medieval Latin) Asphalt, natural bitumen, mineral pitch.^[2][1][4]

Related words

• bitūmen
• English asphalt

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e 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
5. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften