Etymologically
Log in

passagium

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 18:53. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Forms

passāgium n (genitive passāgiī); second declension[1][2] The DMLBS also records the spelling passuagium.[3]

Etymology

It is a medieval word, which the DMLBS compares with Old French passage and Middle English passage, with an assumed Vulgar Latin *passaticum and with the verb *passō (“to pass”), from Latin passus (“step”).[3][4] In 1480 Agricola wrote that the word had been taken from French in the sense of a military expedition.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record in the DMLBS is in the Domesday Book of 1085–1086, where an entry for Derbyshire lists a fishpond and a passage over the water, that is, a ferry.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

In British Latin it meant a way or pass, a ferry and the right to run one, the right to pass, a toll on people or goods in transit, transport, and the crossing of a river or of the sea.[3] A charter of 1111 frees a monastery's goods from toll and passuagium throughout England,[3] and an edict of Philip VI of France of 1329 speaks of the guards of the ports and passages of the kingdom.[6]

It also came to mean an expedition or journey, especially a crusade, with generale passagium for a general crusade;[3][2] Benvenuto's commentary on Dante uses it of the great crusade proclaimed under Frederick Barbarossa.[2] Polish medieval Latin uses it for a pilgrimage, a crusade, a river crossing and the fee for it.[7] The DMLBS also records it for the passage of time.[3]

Timeline

  • 1085–1086 – The Domesday Book uses it for a ferry.[3][5]
  • 1111 – The cartulary of Colne uses it for a toll on goods in transit.[3]
  • 1178 – A charter in the register of Arbroath grants the ferry-boat of a passagium.[3]
  • 1329 – An edict of Philip VI of France speaks of the guards of passages at the borders.[6]
  • 1480 – Agricola notes that the word came from French in the sense of a military expedition.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A passage, way or pass; a navigable channel.[3][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A ferry, a place of crossing over a river; the right to run a ferry.[3][7]
  3. (Medieval Latin) The right of passing through or across.[3]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A toll on people or goods in passage.[3][7]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Transport; the crossing of a river or the sea.[3]
  6. (Medieval Latin) An expedition or journey; a crusade (generale passagium, a general crusade).[3][2][7]
  7. (Medieval Latin) The passage or course of time.[3]

References

  1. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b c d Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl