Etymologically
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femella

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [feːˈmɛl.la][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [feˈmɛl.la][1]

Forms

fēmella f (genitive fēmellae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is a diminutive of fēmina “woman”, with the suffix -ella.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Catullus, whom he dates 81/79–52/50 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a young woman, a girl.[2] Etymonline explains that in Vulgar Latin the sense spread from young women to the females of animals, and then to females generally.[3]

British Medieval Latin glossaries explain it as a diminutive of fēmina, a little woman, girl.[5] It survives in French femelle and Catalan femella “female”, and through Old French femelle it gave English female in the early 14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it.[4]
  • early 14th century – English female is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A young woman, girl.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A female.[3]

Word family

  • fēmellārius

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ 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