Etymologically
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laqueus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word laqueus

History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫa.kʷe.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlaː.kʷe.us][1]

Forms

laqueus m (genitive laqueī); second declension[1]

Etymology

There is no accepted etymology.[2] Walde and Hofmann and Pokorny derived it from laciō “to entice”, as the OLD and Köbler still do, but de Vaan rejects this because the sounds do not fit and a noose does not follow from that meaning.[2][3][4][5] The TLL also finds that sense a poor match.[6] Wiktionary mentions a possible Proto-Italic *lakʷ- “to ensnare” and a comparison with Balto-Slavic words for bending.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,[2][4] who uses it for a noose to hang oneself, te in laqueum induas.[3]

Semantic evolution

The word meant a loop of rope with a running knot: a noose used in war to pull aside siege hooks, a halter for hanging, a snare or lasso for animals, and a bond.[3][7] Figuratively it meant a trap, as of the snares of the law, and a tie or bond.[3][8]

Medieval texts use it for the string or strip of parchment by which a seal hangs, and for a lace or tag.[9] It survives as French lacs, Italian laccio and Spanish lazo,[1][6] the sources of English lace and English lasso.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for a hanging noose.[3][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for the snares of the law.[3][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar describes nooses used against siege hooks.[3][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it for snares for wild animals.[3][4]
  • Middle Ages – It means the cord by which a seal hangs.[9]
  • early 13th century – Through Old French laz it gives English lace.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A noose, halter; a running loop of rope.[3][7]
  2. A snare or lasso for animals.[3]
  3. A bond.[3]
  4. (figurative) A trap, snare; a tie.[3][8]
  5. (Medieval Latin) The cord or strip by which a seal is attached; a lace.[9]

Word family

  • laqueō
  • oblaqueō
  • ēlaqueō
  • English lace
  • English lasso

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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 f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  9. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
Cite this entry

“Laqueus.” Etymologically, 10 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/laqueus. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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