Etymologically
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lancea

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫaŋ.ke.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlan̠ʲ.t͡ʃe.a][1]

Forms

lancea f (genitive lanceae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is apparently from a Celtic language, and Varro, according to Gellius, says it is Spanish.[2][3][4] Köbler calls it a Celtic loanword, and Wiktionary traces it to Celtic or Celtiberian, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂k- (“to hit”).[5][1] The TLL compares Greek Ancient Greek λόγχη (lónkhē, “spearhead”), which Festus gives as its source, and perhaps Old Irish laigen (“spear”).[6][3] Isidore derived it from its balance, ⟨aequā lance⟩.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis and Short's earliest example is from Sisenna, of the Suebi piercing with lances.[3] Köbler dates Sisenna 120–67 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a long light spear, a lance, with a thong at the middle, as in Hirtius and Tacitus.[2][3][8] In Apuleius it figuratively meant a sharp anxiety.[8] Döderlein explains that the hasta and the lancea were used both for thrusting and throwing.[9]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a lance or spear.[10] Medieval Latin used it for a man-at-arms with his retinue and a measure of length, a rod, and British Medieval Latin for the Holy Lance.[11][12] It survives in French lance, Italian lancia and Spanish lanza, and gave English lance in the late 13th century.[1][4] Late Latin lanceāre “to wield a lance” gave English launch.[1][4]

Timeline

  • 120–67 BC – Sisenna uses it of the Suebi's lances.[3][5]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a lance.[8][5]
  • late 13th century – English lance is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A light spear, lance.[2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A man-at-arms with his retinue; a rod (measure).[11]

Word family

  • lanceārius
  • lanceō
  • lanciola
  • hasta
  • English lance
  • English launch

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  8. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  9. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  10. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  11. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  12. ^ 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