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sacculus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word sacculus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 180–102 BC, Lucilius
Ultimate origin
Latin (saccus)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin saccus
English sack
English cul-de-sac
French sac
Latin sacculus

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈsak.kʊ.ɫʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈsak.ku.lus][1]

Forms

sacculus m (genitive sacculī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin saccus (“sack, bag”) + -ulus, a diminutive.[2][1][3] The base saccus is a borrowing from Ancient Greek σάκκος (sákkos).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Lucilius, where it is a bag for straining wine;[2][4] Köbler gives Lucretius as the first source.[3]

Semantic evolution

Classical writers use it for small bags of any kind, such as bags of barley or of pearls in Pliny the Elder, but especially for a purse.[2][4] Catullus says his purse is full of cobwebs, that is, empty, and Juvenal describes a swelling purse.[2][4]

In Medieval Latin it could mean a treasury or funds, and also an estate.[5] British sources use it for small sacks of grain or flour and for money-bags.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius mentions a bag for straining wine.[2][3]
  • 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus says his purse is full of cobwebs.[2][3]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it for bags of barley and pearls.[2][3]
  • c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal uses it of a full purse.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A small bag or sack.[2][4]
  2. A bag for straining wine.[2][4]
  3. A purse, money-bag.[2][4]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A treasury, funds; an estate.[5]

Word family

  • sacculārius
  • saccārius
  • saccellus
  • saccō
  • saccus

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 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. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Sacculus.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sacculus. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·