penis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpeː.nɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɛː.nis]^[1]

Forms

pēnis m (genitive pēnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is generally derived from Proto-Indo-European *pes-ni- (“penis”), as in Hittite pešan- (“man, male”), Sanskrit पसस् (pásas, “penis”) and Ancient Greek πέος (péos, “penis”).^[2][3][1] De Vaan argues that the sense “tail” is original, since it appears from Naevius and “penis” only from Catullus, and that the adjective pēnītus (“having a tail”) points the same way.^[2][4] He suggests it may come from *petsni- “feather”, related to Old Latin pesna, which would also explain penna “feather” from *petna.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Naevius, who speaks of household gods painted with an ox tail.^[2][3] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was a tail.^[3] Cicero notes that the ancients called a tail pēnis, and Festus records the same.^[3][6] From Catullus on it meant the male organ, as in Horace, Persius, Martial and Juvenal, and as a familiar nickname.^[3] Its diminutive pēniculus meant a brush or sponge, and Naevius uses it of a painter's brush.^[2][7]

In Medieval Latin it was also a horse's tail.^[8] English took it as an anatomical term in the 1570s.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of a tail.^[3][5]
• 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of the male organ.^[3][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero remarks on its old sense “tail”.^[3][5]
• 1570s – English penis is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A tail.^[3]
2. The penis.^[3]
3. (Medieval Latin) A horse's tail.^[8]

Word family

• pēnicillum
• pēniculāmentum
• pēniculus

Related words

• penna
• English penis

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ a b 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