berbicarius

Forms

berbicārius (feminine berbicāria, neuter berbicārium); first/second-declension adjective, also a masculine noun^[1][2] Medieval spellings include bervicarius, bercarius, berbiquarius, berbigarius and berbigerius.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin vervēx + -ārius.^[1] Niermeyer derives it from ⟨berbex⟩, the spelling of the noun with /b/.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest record is a document of 698 published by Calmet, where it is a noun for a sheep farmer or shepherd.^[1]

Semantic evolution

As a noun it named a shepherd, a monk who raised sheep, or the tenant of a sheep farm.^[1][2] As an adjective it described land or buildings used for sheep farming.^[2][1] The feminine berbicaria became a noun for a sheepfold and for a shepherd's holding.^[2] In British records the form brebicarius appears for a shepherd.^[3]

Timeline

• 698 – The noun is recorded in a document published by Calmet.^[1]
• 1147 – The adjective “used for sheep farming” appears in a charter.^[1]
• 1284 – An English register lists the duties of brebicarii (shepherds).^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Used for sheep farming.^[2][1]

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A shepherd or sheep farmer.^[2][1][3]
2. (Medieval Latin) The tenant of a sheep farm.^[2]

Related words

• vervex

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
3. ^ a b c 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