Etymologically
Log in

calceus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word calceus

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (calx)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkaɫ.ke.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkal̠ʲ.t͡ʃe.us][1]

Forms

calceus m (genitive calceī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from calx “heel” with the suffix -eus.[1][2][3][4] A form ⟨calcius⟩ also occurs.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of shoes.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a shoe or half-boot covering the whole foot, as opposed to sandals, as in Cicero, and Pliny the Elder mentions a left shoe put on the wrong way.[2][3][4] The calceus Sicyōnius was a soft slipper, the calceī mulleī or patriciī the red shoes of senators who had held curule office, as in Cato, and the calceus Bardaicus a soldier's shoe, as in Juvenal.[2][4]

In Medieval Latin it meant a shoe, and a horseshoe.[6] Romanian încălțăminte “footwear” and Italian calcetto are related forms.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of shoes.[2][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses calceī mulleī.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a shoe.[4][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A shoe, half-boot.[2]
  2. calceī mulleī, the red shoes of senators.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A horseshoe.[6]

Word family

  • calceārium
  • calceārius
  • calceō
  • calceolus
  • calcea
  • calceāria

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b 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
Cite this entry

“Calceus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/calceus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·