pantex

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpan.tɛks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpan.teks]^[1]

Forms

pantex m (genitive panticis); third declension^[1] It is usually plural, pantices.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is a colloquial word of uncertain formation, and the OLD and Wiktionary connect it with pānus “swelling”.^[2][1] Köbler links it with Proto-Indo-European *pank- (“to swell”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gaffiot and Köbler cite Plautus' Pseudolus.^[5][4] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was the belly, the paunch, the guts, a coarse word found in Plautus, Martial and the Priapea.^[2][5]

British Medieval Latin still had it for the belly.^[6] It survives in Italian pancia, Spanish panza and Romanian pântece.^[1] Through Old French pance it gave English paunch in the late 14th century, and through Italian la pancia American slang English labonza (1943).^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[5][4]
• 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it.^[5][4]
• late 14th century – English paunch is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. (usually plural) The belly, paunch, guts.^[2]

Related words

• venter
• English paunch

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com