Etymologically
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rutilus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈrʊ.tɪ.ɫʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈruː.ti.lus][1]

Forms

rutilus (feminine rutila, neuter rutilum); first/second-declension adjective[1] Written rutul- in a line of Virgil's Aeneid.[2]

Etymology

The OLD puts it with the root of ruber (“red”), but de Vaan, who lists it among the relatives of that word, says there is no good explanation for it.[2][3] Wiktionary reports two proposals: a derivative of Proto-Indo-European *h₂rew- (“to shine”), perhaps related to Proto-Celtic *ruteinos (“shiny reddish”), or an older ⟨rutulus⟩ altered by dissimilation.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has it first,[4] of a head of hair that may be grey or red in the Mercator.[2]

Semantic evolution

It is a warm or glowing red that leans toward gold or orange.[2] Varro says gold coins were called rutili and very red-haired women rutilae.[5] It is used above all of hair, especially that of the Germanic peoples, of gold and similar metal, as Virgil's corslet of rutilum scales, and of fire and light, as the red light of the Dog Star in Cicero's Aratea.[2] Plautus also has iron that turns red as it is scrubbed of rust.[2] Rutilus was also a Roman surname.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of red hair and of rusty iron.[2][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro, of gold coins and red-haired women.[5][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero, of the red light of a star.[2][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil, of a corslet of gold-red scales.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of a warm, glowing red inclining to gold or orange, ruddy, auburn; of hair, red, blond.[2][5][1]
  2. Of gold and metal, golden-red.[2]
  3. Of light and fire, glowing red.[2]

Word family

  • praerutilus
  • rutilō
  • subrutilus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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