Etymologically
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gula

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɡʊ.ɫa][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɡuː.la][1]

Forms

gula f (genitive gulae); first declension[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[2][1] It is traditionally derived from Proto-Indo-European *gʷel- (“throat, to swallow”), with cognates such as Sanskrit गल (gala, “throat”), but de Vaan finds that this preform would not give gula.[2][1][3] He compares Armenian եկուլ (ekul, “devoured”) and Old Church Slavonic глътати (glŭtati, “to swallow”).[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was the throat or gullet, as in Cicero's obtortā gulā “by the throat” and Sallust's strangling with a noose.[6][7] As the seat of appetite it meant gluttony, as in Cicero's “what a tasteless palate!”.[3][1] Döderlein contrasts faux, the entrance to the throat.[8]

In medieval Latin it was also a river mouth and fur from martens' throats.[9] It survives as Italian gola and French gueule.[1] Old French golet, a diminutive, gave English gullet.[10]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the throat and of appetite.[3][5]
  • c. 1300 – English gullet is recorded, through Old French golet.[10]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The throat, gullet.[3][11]
  2. The palate, appetite; gluttony.[3][1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A river mouth; marten fur.[9]

Word family

  • gulō
  • gulōsus
  • dēgulō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  11. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press