poliva

Forms

poliva f (genitive polivae); first declension; also polivus m and polivum n^[1] The records also spell it puliva, polliva, pulyfus and pullivus.^[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.^[1][2] The DMLBS gives it as borrowed from Middle English polive (“pulley”) and compares polus and Ancient Greek πόλος (pólos).^[1] Etymonline instead derives the English and Old French words from the Medieval Latin one, which Barnhart and Klein take to come probably from a Medieval Greek diminutive of pólos, “pivot, axis”.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a Medieval Latin word of English building and naval accounts: the earliest record in the DMLBS is from 1290, a payment for iron pro puliva, for a pulley.^[1]

Semantic evolution

All its records in the DMLBS are English accounts of the late 13th and early 14th centuries, for pulleys bought for buildings and a galley, sometimes with anchors and cables.^[1] English had puli from the late 13th century, from Old French polie as well as directly from the Medieval Latin word.^[2]

Timeline

• 1290 – Iron is bought pro puliva in a building account.^[1]
• 1295 – David Fusor is paid for twelve pollivae.^[1]
• 1296 – The accounts of the Newcastle galley record a pulyfus bought.^[1]
• 1317 – Two pullivi are carried to the palace from the Tower.^[1]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A pulley.^[1][2]

Related words

• English pulley

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com