Etymologically
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cinnamomum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɪn.naˈmoː.mũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [t͡ʃin.naˈmɔː.mum][1]

Forms

cinnamōmum n (genitive cinnamōmī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek κιννάμωμον (kinnámōmon, “cinnamon”).[2][1][3] Wiktionary notes that the Greek might be explained as “Chinese amomum”, a word of unknown origin.[1] Shorter forms cinnamum and cinnamon are also found, the second in Lucan.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it as a term of flattery.[5][4] Köbler's first source is Pliny the Elder (23/24–79 AD).[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant cinnamon, which the OLD describes as a superior kind of cassia, both the plant and the spice.[2][1] Pliny describes it at length, and Celsus uses it in medicine.[6] In Plautus it is a term of endearment.[4][1]

Isidore says it was named because its bark is round and thin like a reed, and that it grows in India and Ethiopia.[7] English cinnamon came through Old French in the late 14th century.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it as a term of endearment.[5][3]
  • 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it in remedies.[6][3]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes cinnamon.[4][3]
  • c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains the name.[7][3]
  • late 14th century – English cinnamon is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Cinnamon, the plant and the spice.[2][1]
  2. A term of endearment.[4][1]

Word family

  • cinnaminum
  • cinnamōminus
  • cinnameus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com