pugil

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpʊ.ɡɪɫ]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpuː.d͡ʒil]^[1]

Forms

pugil m (genitive pugilis); third declension^[1] Varro has a nominative pugilis.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from the root ⟨pug-⟩ of pugnus “fist”, with the suffix ⟨-il-⟩ as in vigil, though the TLL notes it is unclear exactly how it relates to ⟨pugnus⟩.^[4][2] Wiktionary derives it from pungō “to prick” with -ilis, the final ⟨-is⟩ lost as in ⟨vigil⟩.^[1] Cognate with Ancient Greek πύξ (púx, “with the fist”).^[2][5] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨*pug-⟩ “fist” and ⟨*pung-⟩ “to pierce”, Proto-Indo-European *pu-n(e)-g/k-.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Terence.^[7] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[7]

Semantic evolution

It meant a boxer, a fist-fighter, as in Cicero.^[2][5]

Medieval Latin used it for a champion.^[8] British Medieval Latin glosses gave it as boxer or wrestler.^[9] English pugilist and pugilism (both 1789) are formed from it.^[10]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[7]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of boxers.^[5][7]
• 1789 – English pugilist is formed from it.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A boxer.^[2][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) A champion.^[8]

Word family

• pugilicē

Related words

• pugilārēs
• pugillārēs
• pugilātiō
• pugillātiō
• pugilātor
• pugillātor
• pugilātōrius
• pugillātōrius
• pugilātus
• pugillātus
• pugnus
• pugna
• pugillus
• English pugilist
• English pugilism

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ 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
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com