Etymologically
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carota

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kaˈroː.ta][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kaˈrɔː.ta][1]

Forms

carōta f (genitive carōtae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek καρωτόν (karōtón, “carrot”).[1][2][3] Wiktionary calls the Greek a diminutive of καρώ (karṓ, “caraway”), perhaps from κάρα (kára, “head”) or Pre-Greek, and relates carum “caraway”.[1] Etymonline suggests the PIE root Proto-Indo-European *ker- (“horn; head”), from the horn-like shape.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Apicius, in his cookery book, gives recipes for carrots.[5][6] Köbler dates Apicius to the 4th century AD.[2]

Semantic evolution

It was the carrot, a late word found in Apicius.[5][6][7] Köbler also records it in the capitularies.[2]

In medieval Latin it was the carrot, identified with the wild daucus or pastinaca.[8][3] Its descendants include Italian carota and Romanian carotă.[1] English carrot is recorded around 1500 through French carotte.[4]

Timeline

  • 4th century AD – Apicius gives recipes for carrots.[5][2]
  • c. 1500 – English carrot is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A carrot.[5][1]

Usage notes

It is distinct from caryōta, a kind of date, borrowed from Greek and used by Varro and Pliny.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften