Etymologically
Log in

polio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word polio

History Permalink
Confidence
Uncertain
Formation
Inherited
First attested
Twelve Tables

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpɔ.li.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɔː.li.o][1]

Forms

poliō (present infinitive polīre, perfect active polīvī or poliī, supine polītum); fourth conjugation[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.[1][2] Vendryes thought it belonged to the jargon of fullers and connected it with a root *pel- “to beat”, as in English felt.[2] It could also come from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₁- (“to swing”), as in Ancient Greek πάλλω (pállō, “to swing, shake”), since fullers beat cloth to clean it.[2][1] De Vaan also allows a verb from an adjective *poli-, Proto-Indo-European *polh₂-i- (“flat”), if the first meaning was “to make flat, smooth”.[2][1] The old derivation from the perfect polīvī of polinō “to besmear” is rejected by Walde and Hofmann and by Ernout and Meillet, though Seldeslachts revived it.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is the Twelve Tables, which forbid the wood of a pyre to be smoothed with an axe.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to give a smooth or glossy surface, smooth, polish, also to dress cloth to a smooth finish, as Pliny the Elder's linen, and apparently to hull grain.[3] In farming it meant to clear ground by weeding, as in Ennius and Varro.[3] Figuratively it meant to bring to a refined state, of persons, as Cicero's orator not yet polished enough, and of literary works, as Ovid's question why he should polish his poems with anxious care.[3]

It survives in French and Spanish polir and Italian pulire “to clean”.[1] Through Old French poliss- it is the source of English polish, recorded in the early 14th century.[5]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of weeding a field.[3][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of polishing an orator and a speech.[3][6]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of finishing linen.[3][6]
  • early 14th century – English polish is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To smooth, polish.[3]
  2. To dress (cloth) to a smooth finish.[3]
  3. To clear (ground) by weeding.[3]
  4. To refine (a person or a literary work), give finish to.[3]

Word family

  • dēpoliō
  • expoliō
  • impolītus
  • interpolus
  • perpoliō
  • polīmen
  • polītiō
  • polītor
  • polītūra
  • Polliō
  • repoliō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Polio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/polio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·