camba

Forms

camba f (genitive cambae); first declension^[1] Niermeyer also gives the forms cambo (genitive cambonis) and camma.^[2]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[2][3] Niermeyer and Köbler call it Celtic.^[2][4] The MLW suggests a connection with camum, or else a source in Old Dutch cited by von Wartburg;^[3] the DMLBS compares Old French cambe and, with a query, ⟨camum⟩.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in the statutes of Adalhard of Corbie (822), which regulate mills and brewhouses (de molinis vel cambis).^[4][3]

Semantic evolution

It named a brewhouse or malt-house, which Niermeyer describes as a malt-floor with a malt-kiln, and also a brewing pan.^[2][3] Carolingian capitularies, councils and charters record dues owed by brewhouses, often beside mills;^[3] Caesarius of Heisterbach explains that a camba is what is called in the vernacular a bakehouse and brewhouse, where the tenants must bake bread and brew beer.^[3] It could also mean a bakehouse.^[3] In England it is found in Anglo-Norman charters of the late 12th century.^[5]

Timeline

• 822 – Adalhard of Corbie's statutes mention brewhouses beside mills.^[4][3]
• c. 1185 – A charter of Henry II grants a tithe from the brewhouse of Robert la Eise.^[5]
• c. 1220 – The statutes of Arras name a master of the bakehouse and the brewhouse.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A brewhouse, malt-house; a brewing pan.^[2][3][5][4]
2. (Medieval Latin) A bakehouse.^[3]

Usage notes

A separate camba “leg”, Late Latin, is a variant of gamba.^[2][3][4][1] Du Cange also records camba for something bent, after Papias, and for the handle of a fan.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ 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
6. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre