nauta

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈnau̯.ta], [ˈnau̯.taː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnaːu̯.ta], [ˈnaːu̯.ta]^[1]

Forms

nauta m or f (genitive nautae); first declension^[1] It is also nāvita.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ναύτης (naútēs, “sailor”), from Ancient Greek ναῦς (naûs, “ship”).^[2][1] Wiktionary calls it a doublet of ⟨nāvita⟩.^[1] Isidore derives it from ⟨nāvis⟩ “ship” and calls ⟨nāvita⟩ a poetic form.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius, whom he dates 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a sailor, a seaman.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a sailor.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it for a sailor, an impressed member of a crew, and figuratively.^[6] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish nauta, and its Greek source is behind English -naut.^[1]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A sailor, seaman.^[2]

Word family

• nautālis
• nauticus

Related words

• nāvis
• English nautical

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ 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