sacristanus

Forms

sacristānus m (genitive sacristānī); second declension^[1][2] Medieval spellings include secristanus, sacrestanus, segrestanus and sigristanus.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin sacrista (“sacristan”) + -ānus.^[3] Sacrista itself goes back to sacer (“sacred”).^[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is Medieval Latin.^[1][2] The DMLBS has it before 1150 in a Canterbury charter, where a rent is paid to the secrestanus of a church, meaning the sacristan.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Niermeyer gives two senses: a monk in charge of the upkeep of an abbey church, and more generally a sacristan or sexton.^[2] In British records the sacristan was given money, for example to provide the hosts for Mass.^[3] English took the word over as sacristan in the early 14th century, and sexton is a worn-down form of the same word.^[4] German Sakristan and Middle Low German sacristein come from it as well.^[1]

Timeline

• before 1150 – A Canterbury charter records a rent paid to the sacristan of a church.^[3]
• before 1154 – A Robert sacristanus witnesses a charter of St Paul's.^[3]
• early 14th century – English borrows it as sacristan.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A monk in charge of the upkeep of an abbey church.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) A sacristan, sexton.^[2][3][1]

Related words

• sacrista
• English sacristan
• English sexton

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f 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
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com