Etymologically
Log in

castra

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 18:39. It may differ significantly from the current version. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Current version Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkas.tra][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkas.tra][1]

Forms

castra n pl (genitive castrōrum); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the plural of castrum (“fort”).[2][1] The singular is, according to de Vaan, inherited from Proto-Italic *kastro- (“part, share”), *ḱs-tro-, from the root Proto-Indo-European *ḱes- (“to cut”);[3] Walde–Hofmann and Ernout–Meillet took it as “a part cut off”, hence “fenced area, property” and “camp”.[3] The same base gives *kastro- (“knife”), whence castrō (“to castrate”).[3]

Compare Oscan castrous and Umbrian kastruvuf, perhaps “land, property”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus on: in castra ex urbe ad nōs veniunt flentēs prīncipēs “the chiefs come weeping from the city to our camp”.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

Castra is a fortified military camp; by extension it means one side in a war (castra Pompeī), military life and service (Cicero sets castra against the forum), and a day's march (quīntīs castrīs “in five days' marches”).[2][1] Figuratively it means a sphere of activity, and a philosophical school or sect.[2][1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – First found in Plautus.[3][2]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar reaches Gergovia quīntīs castrīs.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: cēdat … forum castrīs.[2][4]
  • 57/46–12 BC – Propertius calls elegy his castra, his field.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A military camp, fortified encampment.[2][5]
  2. A side or army in a war.[2]
  3. Military life, active service.[2][1]
  4. A night's camp on the march; a day's march.[2]
  5. Field, sphere of activity; a philosophical sect.[2][1]

Usage notes

A feminine singular castra, -ae with the same meaning is recorded by the OLD.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson