Etymologically
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calx

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkaɫks][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkalks][1]

Forms

calx f (genitive calcis); third declension[1] Varro has a nominative cals, and Plautus and Cato use it as masculine.[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from Ancient Greek χάλιξ (khálix, “small stone, gravel”), or both words were borrowed independently from another Mediterranean language.[2][1] The verb calicāre “to coat with lime” keeps the Greek stem, while calx shows an unexpected syncope.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cato uses it of lime for building.[2][3] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was lime and limestone, as in Cato's mortar of small stones and sanded lime.[3] It was also a small stone used as a counter in board games, in Plautus and Lucilius.[3][6] It also meant the finishing line of a race.[1]

In medieval Latin it was burnt or slaked lime.[7] It survives as Italian calce and French chaux.[1] Its diminutive calculus “pebble” gave English calculate and calculus, and Old English borrowed it as cealc “chalk”.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a gaming stone.[3][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of lime.[3][5]
  • 1560s – English calculate is recorded, from calculāre, from calculus.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Lime, limestone; chalk.[3][4][1]
  2. A small stone used in games.[3][6]
  3. The finishing line (of a race).[1]

Word family

  • calculātiō
  • calculātor
  • English chalk
  • English calculate
  • English calculus

Usage notes

A different word, calx “heel”, of uncertain origin, gave calcar “spur”, calceus “shoe” and calcō “to tread”.[2][1] Döderlein counts calx among the smaller pieces of stone.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper