Etymologically
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sacculus

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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