manicus

Forms

manicus m (genitive manicī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin manus (“hand”) + -icus.^[1] Köbler refers it also to manica (“sleeve”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the accusative manicum in the Liber Glossarum,^[1] meaning a handle.^[1]

Semantic evolution

It is an early medieval word for a handle,^[1] recorded in Britain about 1188^[2] and in an Italian inventory of 1389, which lists knives with handles of crystal.^[3] It survives in Italian manico, Sicilian manicu and other Romance words for a handle.^[1]

Timeline

• Early Medieval Latin – The Liber Glossarum has the accusative manicum.^[1]
• c. 1188 – It is recorded in British Latin.^[2]
• 1389 – An Italian inventory lists knives “ad manicos de cristallo”.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A handle.^[1][2][3]

Related words

• manubrium
• manica

Usage notes

Köbler records a separate medieval adjective manicus “mad”, from mania.^[2] Polish documents of 1473 have an adjective manicus “of a sleeve”, from manica.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
4. ^ Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl