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colpus

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colpus1 gulf

Forms

colpus m (genitive colpī); second declension[1]

Etymology

The “gulf” is borrowed from Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos, “bosom; bay, gulf”).[1][2][3] Köbler compares, with a query, Proto-Indo-European *ku̯elp- (“to arch”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Jerome explains that some take sinus in two ways, as the lower part of a garment and as the colpus of the sea, that is a bay such as that of the Adriatic.[3][2]

Semantic evolution

Medical writers used it of a part of the womb and of a hanging, pocket-like ulcer: Cassius Felix says the Greeks call such sinuses colpus.[3][4] In Medieval Latin, spelt also gulfus and culfus, it is the usual word for a gulf or bay of the sea.[4][5][2] Through Italian golfo and Old French it gave English gulf.[6][2]

Timeline

  • c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it of a bay of the sea.[2][3]
  • 447 AD – Cassius Felix uses it of a sinus-like ulcer.[3][2]
  • late 14th century – English gulf is borrowed from Old French golf, ultimately from this word.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Late Latin) A gulf, bay of the sea.[3][5][4]
  2. (Late Latin, medicine) A part of the womb; a hanging, hollow ulcer.[3][4]
  3. (Late Latin) A hollow space, pocket; the hollow between waves.[1]

colpus2 blow

Forms

colpus m (genitive colpī); second declension[1]

Etymology

The “blow” is from Latin colaphus (“a blow with the fist”) in a shortened form,[1][3][5][7] itself from Ancient Greek κόλαφος (kólaphos).[1] It is the source of Italian colpo and French coup.[8][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in the Lex Salica,[1][7] meaning a blow or stroke.[7][9]

Semantic evolution

Du Cange finds it throughout the Frankish and Alamannic laws and in English laws of Athelstan and Henry I.[7] In British sources it means a blow, such as a stone thrown at a man that misses him, or a visible stroke at a door or house.[10]

Timeline

  • 6th century – The Lex Salica uses it of a blow.[6][7]
  • early 12th century – The Leges Henrici Primi forbid striking a visible blow at a gate or house.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A blow, stroke.[10][7][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d e f g du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  8. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  9. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard, Liber exquisiti xenii: Lexikon frühmittelalterlicher Rechtswörter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  10. ^ a b c 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