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crappa

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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]

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