rudus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈruː.dʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈruː.dus]^[1]

Forms

rūdus n (genitive rūderis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

Its origin is uncertain; the OLD calls it doubtful.^[2] Wiktionary and Köbler derive it from Proto-Indo-European *Hrew- (“to tear up, dig up”) and relate it to rudis “rough”.^[1][3][4] Wiktionary alternatively relates it to raudus “lump of ore”, of substrate origin.^[1] Isidore says builders call broken stones mixed with lime ⟨rūdus⟩.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Lucilius, of rubble.^[2] Köbler's first source is Vitruvius; he dates Lucilius c. 180–102 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant broken stones, rubble, from decayed buildings or digging, as in Lucilius and Tacitus' rubble after the fire of Rome, and in Varro and Columella a rubbly soil, marl.^[2][6] In Vitruvius it meant broken stone mixed with lime for laying pavements, concrete, also used for roofing.^[2][7][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for rubble, debris, rubbly soil and cobblestones.^[8] It survives in Italian rudere “ruin”.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of rubble.^[2][3]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of rubbly soil.^[2][3]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of paving concrete.^[2][3]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of rubble after a fire.^[6][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Broken stones, rubble; rubbly soil.^[2]
2. Broken stone for paving, concrete.^[2]

Word family

• ērūderō
• rūdectus
• rūderārius
• rūderātiō
• rūderātus
• rūderālis

Related words

• rudis
• English rude

Usage notes

A different rūdus is a variant of raudus, a lump of bronze.^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ 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