cubitus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkʊ.bɪ.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkuː.bi.tus]^[1]

Forms

cubitus m (genitive cubitūs); fourth declension^[1]

Etymology

It is usually derived from the root of cubō “to lie down”, since one reclined on the elbow at table, with a suffix as in digitus.^[2][1][3] De Vaan points out that the supposed outside cognates, Ancient Greek κύβος (kúbos, “cube, die”), Welsh gogof (“cave”) and Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐍀𐍃 (hups, “hip”), differ too much in meaning to support a root *keub-.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus, where a parasite boasts that his elbow is a catapult.^[4][5][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was the elbow, on which diners leaned when reclining, so that cubitum pōnere meant to sit down to dinner, and by transfer a sharp bend, as the curve of the coast at Ancona in Pliny.^[2] It was also the forearm and its inner bone, the ulna, and as a measure the cubit, the distance from elbow to fingertip, about a foot and a half.^[2]

The neuter cubitum is also found.^[2] English cubit came from it as a unit of measure in the early 14th century.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has a parasite call his elbow a catapult.^[2][5]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius gives the forearm as a quarter of the body's height.^[2][5]
• early 14th century – English cubit is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. The elbow, cubitum pōnere, to sit down to dinner.^[2]
2. A sharp bend.^[2]
3. The forearm; the ulna.^[2]
4. A cubit (as a measure).^[2]

Related words

• cubō
• English cubit

Usage notes

Cubitus, -ūs, a fourth-declension noun formed from cubō, meant “lying down, a couch”.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com