Etymologically
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falx

Etymology and origin of the Latin word falx

History Permalink
Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
Cato

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfaɫks][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfalks][1]

Forms

falx f (genitive falcis); third declension[1]

Etymology

Its origin is uncertain.[2] It is usually derived from Proto-Indo-European *dʰelg- (“to sting”), comparing Old Irish delg (“thorn, pin”) and Lithuanian dìlgė (“nettle”).[1][3] De Vaan finds the meaning acceptable, but notes that the Latin vowel and the final consonant cannot come from that root, so that it can at most be a borrowing from another Indo-European language of Italy.[4] Ernout and Meillet suspect a loanword, likely for a technical word, and the link with Sicilian Ζάγκλη “sickle” is too uncertain.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Cato, who lists hay scythes and straw sickles among farm tools.[4][3][2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It was any curved agricultural blade, the sickle, scythe, pruning hook or billhook.[2][5] It was also a curved sword, as that of Perseus.[2]

In medieval Latin it was a day's work of mowing or reaping.[6] It survives in Italian falce, French faux and Spanish hoz.[1] English falcate “sickle-shaped” comes from falcātus, and Late Latin falcō “falcon” was said to be named from its hooked talons.[7]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato lists scythes and sickles among farm tools.[2][3]
  • mid-13th century – English falcon is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A sickle, scythe, pruning hook.[2]
  2. A curved sword.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A day's mowing.[6]

Word family

  • falcārius
  • falcastrum
  • falcātus
  • falcīcula
  • falcifer
  • falciger
  • falcitenens
  • falcula
  • falcō
  • English falcate
  • English falcon

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ 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. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Falx.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/falx. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·