Etymologically

haribergum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word haribergum

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
507–511?, Pactus legis Salicae
Ultimate origin
Proto-Germanic *harjaz,*bergan

Forms

haribergum n (genitive haribergī); second declension[1][2] Also spelled ⟨heribergum⟩ and ⟨herbergum⟩.[1][2] Köbler and Niermeyer connect ⟨albergum⟩, ⟨arbergum⟩ and ⟨albergium⟩ with it.[2][1] The MLW files ⟨heribergum⟩ under the feminine ⟨herberga⟩, and ⟨haribergum⟩ under ⟨albergum⟩.[3]

Etymology

It is from Proto-Germanic *harjaz (“army”) + *bergan (“to shelter, protect”), a Germanic word in Latin form.[2][1] Köbler takes the first part back to Proto-Indo-European *koros (“army, war”) and the second to Proto-Indo-European *bʰerg̑ʰ- (“to shelter, keep safe”).[2] The MLW compares Old High German hereberga.[3] English harbor probably goes back to the same compound, through Old English here-beorg (“lodgings, quarters”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is the Pactus legis Salicae, of 507–511 (the date is uncertain), which has the spelling ⟨herbergum⟩.[2]

Semantic evolution

Niermeyer defines it as an army camp.[1][2] A diploma of Charlemagne is dated actum in haribergō pūblicō, “done in the public camp”,[3] and a capitulary complains that men from beyond the Seine had destroyed the heribergum built by royal order the year before.[3] The MLW gives this form the sense of a lodging or quarters.[3] Köbler also records it of the right of lodging, a payment made to be free of the duty of lodging, a household or court, and an estate:[2] these are the senses Niermeyer and the MLW give for the variant ⟨albergum⟩.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 507–511? – The Pactus legis Salicae has the spelling ⟨herbergum⟩.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) An army camp, encampment.[1][2][3]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A lodging, quarters.[3]
  3. (Medieval Latin) The right of lodging; a payment or tax due instead of it.[2][1]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A household or court; an estate.[2][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Related etymologies

  • sapo · also from Proto-Germanic
  • framea · also from Proto-Germanic
  • urus · also from Proto-Germanic
  • baro · also from Proto-Germanic
  • parricus · also from Proto-Germanic
  • theodiscus · also from Proto-Germanic
  • filtrum · also from Proto-Germanic
  • lista · also from Proto-Germanic
Cite this entry

“Haribergum.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/haribergum. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·