dactylus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdak.ty.ɫʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdak.ti.lus]^[1]

Forms

dactylus m (genitive dactylī); second declension^[1] It is also spelled dactylos.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos, “finger; dactyl; date”).^[2][1][3] Köbler suggests that the Greek word for the date is a loan from a Semitic language.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of the metrical foot.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a dactyl, the metrical foot of one long and two short syllables, like the joints of a finger, as in Cicero.^[2] In Columella it was a kind of vine with long grapes, in Pliny the Elder a date and a razor shell, and the Dactylī Īdaeī were mythical beings of Mount Ida.^[2][5]

In Medieval Latin it meant a date.^[6] British Medieval Latin glossaries render it as a finger.^[7] Through Old Provençal datil and Old French date it gave English date “fruit of the date palm” about 1300, and English dactyl in the late 14th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the metrical foot.^[2][4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of the date.^[5][4]
• c. 1300 – English date (fruit) is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A dactyl (metrical foot).^[2]
2. A date (fruit).^[5][6]
3. A kind of vine; a razor shell.^[2][5]

Related words

• digitus
• English dactyl
• English date

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: 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 Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ 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