Etymologically
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rubinus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [rʊˈbiː.nʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ruˈbiː.nus][1]

Forms

rubīnus m (genitive rubīnī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin rubeus1 (“red”) + -īnus, a medieval coinage;[1][2][3] Etymonline gives the phrase ⟨rubinus lapis⟩ “red stone”.[3] The DMLBS instead takes it from Old French rubin.[4] The base rubeus1 is related to ruber (“red”),[3] which goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h1rudh-ró- (“red”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Suger's work on his administration, of 1145, where it names the ruby.[6]

Semantic evolution

The word named the ruby, a red gem that the older glossaries equated with the carbunculus (Greek anthrax).[2][7] Medieval writers spelled it also robinus, and used rubeus or rubetum in the same sense.[2][6] In British inventories it appears from the 14th century among pearls and sapphires set in gold.[4] Köbler also records an adjective rubinus “red, ruby-red”.[6]

Through Old French rubi it gave English ruby around 1300;[3] Italian rubino comes from the same Latin word.[3]

Timeline

  • 1145 – Suger uses it for the ruby.[6]
  • c. 1300 – English has rubi, rubie, through Old French.[3]
  • 1328 – An inventory lists a case set with pearls and rubies.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A ruby; a carbuncle.[2][4][7][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d 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
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre