Etymologically
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salarius

Etymology and origin of the Latin word salarius

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Livy
Ultimate origin
Latin (sāl)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [saˈɫaː.ri.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [saˈlaː.ri.us][1]

Forms

salārius (feminine salāria, neuter salārium); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from sāl “salt” with the suffix -ārius.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Livy, whom he dates 59 BC–17 AD, and Livy has annōna salāria, the revenue from the sale of salt.[4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

It meant of salt; the Via Salāria was the road from Rome to Reate, the old salt route of the Sabines.[2][6] As a noun salārius was a dealer in salted fish, as in Martial.[2][7]

British Medieval Latin used it of salt and salting.[8] Its neuter salārium, said to be originally soldiers' salt-money, gave Old French salaire and English salary in the late 13th century.[3] Spanish salero and French salière “salt-cellar” descend from it.[1]

Timeline

  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy has annōna salāria.[5][4]
  • 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of a fish dealer.[2][4]
  • late 13th century – English salary is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of salt, Via Salāria, the Salt Road.[2]

Noun

  1. A dealer in salted fish.[2]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  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
Cite this entry

“Salarius.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/salarius. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·