Etymologically
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galbinus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɡaɫ.bɪ.nʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡal.bi.nus][1]

Forms

galbinus (feminine galbina, neuter galbinum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[2][1] Lewis & Short derive it either from galbanum, a plant resin, or from a word galbus “yellow”.[3] Georges and Gaffiot take it from galbus.[4][5] Wiktionary finds the derivation from galbanum morphologically unclear, mentions a possible link with a bird of a similar name, and compares the fashion colour term mēlinus, which has the same rare suffix.[1] Etymonline thinks galbus is probably from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel- (“to shine”).[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Petronius, in the Satyricon, mentions a greenish-yellow girdle.[3][4] Köbler dates Petronius before 66 AD.[7]

Semantic evolution

It meant greenish-yellow or pale yellow, of a girdle in Petronius, of a bird in Martial and of a tunic in the Historia Augusta.[3][4] Juvenal uses the neuter plural galbina for pale green garments, worn by effeminate men.[3][2] So Martial uses it figuratively for effeminate.[3][5]

Medieval writers used it of a greenish or pale yellow.[8][9] It is the source of Old French jalne, French jaune and Italian giallo “yellow”, and through Old French jaunice “yellowness” of English jaundice, recorded around 1300.[1][6]

Timeline

  • before 66 AD – Petronius mentions a greenish-yellow girdle.[3][7]
  • 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of a bird and of effeminate manners.[3][7]
  • c. 1300 – English jaundice is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Greenish-yellow, pale yellow, canary-coloured.[2][1]
  2. Effeminate.[3][1]

Noun

  1. In the neuter plural, pale green clothes, thought effeminate.[2][3]

Word family

  • galbina
  • galbinātus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  9. ^ 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