pluteus

Forms

pluteus m (genitive pluteī); second declension^[1] A neuter pluteum is less frequent, as in Vitruvius.^[2][3]

Etymology

Its origin is uncertain.^[4][5] De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *pluto- and allows a connection with Lithuanian plaũtas (“sweating shelf, sideboard”), Latvian plàuts (“shelf”) and Old Norse fleyðr (“cross-beam”) if the Latin word is an adjective in ⟨-eus⟩ made from a noun meaning woodwork or beam; but no verbal root is known, and he calls the whole etymology up in the air.^[5] The TLL finds neither the Indo-European nor the Etruscan explanations convincing and, given the varying gender, thinks of an old adjective in ⟨-eus⟩.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^[5][6] The OLD's first quotation is Lucilius', of screens made out of shields.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It is a movable screen of wood or wickerwork protecting besiegers: an ancient definition quoted by Lewis & Short describes hurdles covered with raw hides and set before soldiers at work.^[2][3] Caesar has Fabius add screens to a rampart.^[2] It is also a protective parapet, and any low wall or barrier, as Vitruvius' marble screens between the columns of a temple.^[2] Propertius uses it of the board forming the back of a couch.^[2] Wiktionary also gives a bookcase or bookshelf.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the word.^[5][6]
• c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius of siege screens made of shields.^[2][6]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar of screens on a rampart.^[2][6]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius of a parapet and marble screens.^[2][6]
• 57/46–12 BC – Propertius of the back of a couch.^[2][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A movable screen or mantlet protecting besiegers.^[2][3][1]
2. A protective parapet, breastwork; any low wall or barrier.^[2][1]
3. The back board of a couch.^[2]
4. A bookcase, bookshelf.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de