Etymologically
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baca

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈbaː.ka][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbaː.ka][1]

Forms

bāca f (genitive bācae); first declension[1] It is also spelt bacca.[2][3]

Etymology

The origin is unknown.[4][1] A link with Ancient Greek Βάκχος (Bákkhos, “Bacchus”) is uncertain, since the Greek name was probably borrowed from Lydian.[2] Boutkan and Kossmann compared a Berber word for “berry”, and Wiktionary mentions a sound-symbolic root shared with Lithuanian bapkas (“berry, laurel”).[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cato uses it.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was any small fruit of a tree or shrub, a berry, drupe or nut, and especially the olive, as in Cicero's fruits of the trees and the earth.[4][1] It was also a pearl, as the pearl dissolved in vinegar in Horace.[4]

In medieval Britain it was glossed with Old English “berry”.[6] Through Old French baie it gave English bay, at first the laurel berry and then the laurel itself.[7] It survives as Italian bacca and French baie.[1]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.[2][5]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a pearl.[4][5]
  • late 14th century – English bay “laurel berry” is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A berry or other small fruit of a tree or shrub; an olive.[4][1]
  2. A pearl.[4][1]
  3. A bead of coral.[1]

Word family

  • bācālis
  • bācātus
  • bācifer
  • bacō
  • bācula
  • quadribācium
  • bacar
  • baccalaureus
  • bacciballum
  • bacriō
  • quadribaccium
  • tribacca

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com