Etymologically
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gluten

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɡɫuː.tɛn][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡluː.ten][1]

Forms

glūten n (genitive glūtinis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *gloiten (“glue”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *gloh₁i-t- (“slime, glue”), from Proto-Indo-European *gleyH- (“to stick, smear”).[2][1] De Vaan notes that its suffix *-t- is otherwise unknown and may be linked with the rare glittus.[2] Cognate with Ancient Greek γλοιός (gloiós, “glutinous substance, gum”), Ancient Greek γλία (glía, “glue”), Welsh glynu (“to stick”) and Lithuanian glitìs (“mucus”).[2][3] The OLD also compares Old English clǣġ (“clay”).[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro and Lucretius.[2] Köbler's first source is Lucretius, whom he dates 96–55 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant glue, paste or any similar sticky substance, as the bees' glue gathered for building in Virgil's Georgics.[3][6][7] The form glūtinum is used alongside it.[6][7]

In Medieval Latin it was glue, gum or bird-lime, also used figuratively.[8] A Late Latin form glus gave Old French glu, whence English glue in the early 13th century.[4][1] English gluten was borrowed in the 1630s for a sticky substance, and since 1803 of the protein part of wheat flour.[4]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.[3][5]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the glue of bees.[6][5]
  • early 13th century – English glue is recorded.[4]
  • 1630s – English gluten is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Glue, paste or a similar sticky substance.[3]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Bird-lime; a bond (figurative).[8]

Word family

  • glūtinārius
  • glutineus
  • glūtinō
  • glūtinōsus
  • glūtinum
  • English glue
  • English gluten

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b 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