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galleta

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word galleta

Confidence
Uncertain
First attested
late 8th century, Vita Fidoli

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɡalˈleː.ta][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ɡalˈlɛː.ta][1]

Forms

gallēta f (genitive gallētae); first declension[1] The medieval dictionaries head it galeta; other spellings include galeda, galida and gelta.[2][3][4]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[3][5][6] Niermeyer derives it from Medieval Latin galo,[2][4] and Wiktionary takes it as a diminutive of Vulgar Latin *galla (“vessel”), possibly from Gaulish galla (“vessel”).[1][6] The GMLC compares Catalan galleda.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest record Köbler gives is the Vita Fidoli, of the late 8th century, where a galida is to be filled with wine.[4][3]

Semantic evolution

It named a jug or pail, especially for wine, and a measure of liquids;[2][3][5] the consecration record of a Catalan church in 949 lists galletas among its wine vessels,[5] and in a charter of 1260 everyone present drinks a galeda of wine as witness to the deed.[3] Du Cange also records it as a measure of grain, as a vessel used in church and, in the statutes of Asti, as the name of an aromatic root.[7]

English gallon, from Old North French ⟨galon⟩, goes back to it.[6]

Timeline

  • late 8th century – The Vita Fidoli speaks of filling a galida with wine.[4][3]
  • 949 – The consecration record of a Catalan church lists galletas among its wine vessels.[5]
  • 1260 – In a charter the witnesses drink a galeda of wine.[3]
  • late 13th century – English gallon is borrowed from Old North French ⟨galon⟩, which goes back to this word.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A jug, pail or bucket, especially for wine.[2][3][5][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A measure of liquids, chiefly of wine.[2][3][7]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A measure of grain.[7]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A vessel used in church.[7][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f Glossarium Mediae Latinitatis Cataloniae (1960–; online ed. 2025), Barcelona: CSIC / Institució Milà i Fontanals, gmlc.imf.csic.es
  6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
Cite this entry

“Galleta.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/galleta. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·