Etymologically
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pugil

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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
  • 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