Etymologically
Log in

pullanus

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word pullanus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1205
Ultimate origin
Latin pullus#1
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin pullus
Italian pollo
Latin pullanus
From the same root
Latin pulla ← pullus

Forms

pullānus m (genitive pullānī), feminine pullāna; second declension[1][2] The variant pullenus also occurs.[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin pullus1 (“young animal, chicken”) + -ānus;[1] compare Middle English and Anglo-Norman ⟨pullan⟩, and for the variant ⟨pullenus⟩ Middle English and Anglo-Norman ⟨pullein⟩.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Textus Roffensis lists puleini with calves, lambs and piglets among young animals, and a Norman roll of 1205 records two foals, one a year old.[1]

Semantic evolution

In British records it is the usual word for a foal, with the feminine for a filly, from the 13th to the 15th century.[1] It could also mean poultry.[1]

It became a surname, borne by Rodbertus Pullanus, chancellor of the apostolic see.[1] Chroniclers used it for the native Franks of the crusader states, of mixed Syrian and French parentage, whom William of Newburgh describes as standing between Christians and Saracens.[1][2] Old French Polain and French Poulain continue this sense.[2]

Timeline

  • 1205 – A Norman roll records two foals.[1]
  • 1273 – An account distinguishes a male and a female foal.[1]
  • 1446 – A Durham inventory lists yearling foals.[1]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A foal; in the feminine, a filly.[1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Poultry, chickens.[1]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A Poulain, one of the native Franks of the crusader states.[1][2]

Usage notes

Köbler records a separate medieval pullanus, a slide for rolling barrels down, of unexplained origin.[3] The DMLBS also has Pullana as a spelling of Polana “Polish” (wax).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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 Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  3. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Pullanus.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/pullanus. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·