Etymologically
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dactylus

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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]

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