crappa

Forms

crappa f (genitive crappae); first declension^[1][2]

Etymology

According to the DMLBS it is borrowed from Old French crappe.^[2] Etymonline gives the opposite direction, deriving the Old French word (and so English crap) from the Medieval Latin word and crapinum (“chaff”).^[3] Köbler leaves its origin open.^[4] Du Cange notes that the French of his day still called dregs crappe.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest record the DMLBS gives is a Surrey account of 1282 with the spelling grapa, of chaff that was sold.^[2] In Fleta (c. 1290) the refuse of the grain, such as the crappae left over in the year, is to be gathered up and threshed again.^[2][5][4]

Semantic evolution

It is a word of estate management in England and northern France, meaning the refuse of threshed grain, chaff.^[1][2][5] The French Seneschaucy has “lez crappes” in the passage that corresponds to Fleta,^[2] a chartulary of the church of Cambrai names it beside threshing and straw,^[5] and a Sussex survey of 1292 has the spelling scrappis for horse provender from the lord's corn.^[2]

Through French it lived on in Middle English crappe “chaff” (mid-15th century), from which English crap descends.^[3]

Timeline

• 1282 – A Surrey account records the sale of grapa, chaff.^[2]
• c. 1290 – Fleta orders the leftover chaff to be threshed again.^[2][4]
• 1292 – A Sussex survey uses scrappis of horse provender.^[2]
• mid-15th century – Middle English crappe “chaff” appears, from French.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. chaff, the refuse of threshed grain.^[1][2][5]

Related words

• English crap

Usage notes

Köbler lists a second Medieval Latin crappa, perhaps a plant name (milkwort), from a source of 1241.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre