chartula

Forms

chartula f (genitive chartulae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a diminutive of charta “sheet of papyrus” with the suffix -ula.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero wonders what was on “that scrap of paper”.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a scrap of papyrus, a little paper, a small writing, a bill, as in Cicero, Gaius and Fronto.^[2][5] The Theodosian Code uses it of a deed, and Prudentius of the acts of the martyrs.^[4]

In Medieval Latin it meant any written document, a charter, and rarely a royal charter.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for a letter or document.^[7] Through Old French chartre it gave English charter about 1200.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[3][4]
• 348/49–c. 413 AD – Prudentius uses it of the acts of martyrs.^[4][3]
• c. 1200 – English charter is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A scrap of papyrus, a little paper; a note.^[2][5]
2. A deed, document.^[4]
3. (Medieval Latin) A charter.^[6]

Related words

• charta
• English charter
• English chart

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ 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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com