Etymologically
Log in

fiscalis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:35. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [fɪsˈkaː.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [fisˈkaː.lis][1]

Forms

fiscālis (neuter fiscāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from fiscus “money basket, treasury” with the suffix -ālis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Suetonius, whom he dates c. 75–c. 150 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant belonging to the imperial treasury or its revenues, and the neuter plural meant moneys due to it.[2]

Medieval Latin used it for what belonged to the king's patrimony or a royal estate, and of people dependent on a royal estate.[5] British Medieval Latin used it of royal revenue, and as a noun for the fisc and for taxes.[6] It survives in Italian fiscale and French and Spanish fiscal, and through French it gave English fiscal in the 1560s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius uses it.[4]
  • 438 AD – The Theodosian Code uses it.[4]
  • 1560s – English fiscal is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of the imperial treasury; as a noun, moneys due to it.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Of the royal estate; dependent on a royal estate.[5]

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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ 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