piper

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpɪ.pɛr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpiː.per]^[1]

Forms

piper n (genitive piperis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek πέπερι (péperi, “pepper”), which came through Middle Persian from an Indo-Aryan source, ultimately Sanskrit पिप्पलि (pippali, “long pepper”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Varro, whom he dates 116–27 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was pepper, the fruit of the pepper plant, as described by Pliny the Elder and used by Celsus.^[2][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for pepper as a medicine and seasoning, and figuratively.^[6] It survives in Italian pepe and French poivre.^[1] An early West Germanic borrowing gave Old English pipor and English pepper.^[3]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^[4]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it in medicine.^[5][4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes it.^[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. Pepper, the fruit of the pepper plant.^[2]

Word family

• piperātus

Related words

• English pepper

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
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