capis

Forms

capis f (genitive capidis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

De Vaan suggests that it is borrowed from Ancient Greek σκαφίς (skaphís, “bowl, drinking vessel”);^[2] the OLD and the TLL also give the Greek word as a possible source,^[3][4] and Georges derives it from there.^[5] Since Umbrian has the same word (Umbrian capirse, capirso “sacrificial bowl”) already on Iguvine Table I, de Vaan thinks that Greek lent it to several Italic languages separately.^[2]

Varro derived it from capiō “to take”, because such cups had handles to hold them by;^[4][5] L&S also thought it probably akin to that verb.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Lucilius, in the accusative plural capidas,^[2][5] meaning a bowl with a handle.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The capis was a vessel used above all in sacrifices.^[3][6] Livy also uses it,^[5][7] and Priscian noted its Greek-looking accusative plural in -as.^[6]

In Medieval Latin it still meant a cup or bowl;^[8] the DMLBS records it, from an Anglo-Saxon glossary, as an earthenware bowl,^[9] and the MLW notes that it was also confused with capisterium, a trough.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses the accusative plural capidas.^[2][10]
• 116–27 BC – Varro explains the word.^[5][10]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it.^[5][10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bowl or cup with a handle, used mainly in sacrifices.^[3][6]
2. (Medieval Latin) A cup, bowl; an earthenware bowl.^[8][9]

Word family

• capēdō
• capidulum
• capula

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
8. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
9. ^ 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
10. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de