Etymologically
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flammula

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈfɫam.mʊ.ɫa][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈflam.mu.la][1]

Forms

flammula f (genitive flammulae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin flamma (“flame”) + -ula, a diminutive.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero, in the Academica, reports Timagoras' denial that he ever saw two little flames from a lamp when he squeezed his eye.[3][4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a small flame, also in Columella.[2][3] In late Latin Vegetius uses it of small pennants carried by cavalry.[3][6][4]

In medieval Latin it was a little flame, often figuratively, as of the love of letters in a letter of about 794, and possibly the name of a plant, the lesser spearwort.[7][8] Through Old French flamble, flambe and the verb flamboiier “to flame” it is the source of English flamboyant, recorded in 1832 of an architectural style.[9]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the flames of a lamp.[3][5]
  • 1st century AD – Columella uses it.[3][5]
  • c. 400 AD – Vegetius uses it of cavalry pennants.[3][5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A little flame.[2][1]
  2. (Late Latin) A small cavalry pennant.[3][4]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Perhaps the plant lesser spearwort.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  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
  8. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com