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paga

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word paga

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1254
Ultimate origin
Latin pāx
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin paco
French payer
Italian pagare
Latin paga

Forms

paga f (genitive pagae); first declension[1] Niermeyer lists the spellings pagha, pagua and paiga.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin pācō (“to pacify; to satisfy a creditor, pay”),[2][3] a verb that Medieval Latin also spelled ⟨pagare⟩.[3][2] The verb comes from pāx (“peace”) and in Medieval Latin especially meant “to satisfy a creditor”.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS's first example is from 1254, a record of money for paying the sailors (marinelli), in the sense payment.[3]

Semantic evolution

Niermeyer gives the senses “payment” and “pay, wages, salary”.[2] A document of 1439 from the archives of Pavia speaks of the paga due to Franciscus Philelphus for his salary as a teacher.[1] English pay “wages” comes from the Old French noun of the same family.[4]

Timeline

  • 1254 – A record speaks of money for paying the sailors.[3]
  • 1439 – A document from Pavia uses it of a teacher's monthly salary.[1]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) payment.[2][3][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) pay, wages, salary.[2][1]

Usage notes

A separate Medieval Latin paga means a district and comes from pagus.[5][6] Du Cange quotes Asser's account of King Alfred, who was born at the royal estate of Wanading in the paga called Barroscire.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e 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
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  6. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Paga.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/paga. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·