punctio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈpuːŋk.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpuŋk.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

pūnctiō f (genitive pūnctiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin pungō (“to prick”) + -tiō.^[2][1] De Vaan traces ⟨pungō⟩ to Proto-Italic *pung- (“to pierce, sting”), Proto-Indo-European *pu-n(e)-g/k-.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Celsus.^[4] Köbler dates Celsus 14–37 AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

A medical word, it meant a pricking, puncture, and a stabbing pain, a stitch, as of pains in the side in Pliny.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means pricking.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for a pricking that goads, hurts or vexes.^[7] Italian punzone and German Punze “punch” go back to its family.^[4]

Timeline

• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it.^[4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny uses it of a stitch.^[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A pricking, puncture.^[2][5]
2. A stabbing pain, stitch.^[2][5]

Word family

• punctiuncula

Related words

• pungō
• pūnctum
• pūnctūra

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ 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