Etymologically
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manicus

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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]

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