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scabies

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word scabies

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
234–149 BC, Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (scabō)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈska.bi.eːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈskaː.bi.es][1]

Forms

scabiēs f (genitive scabiēī); fifth declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin scabō (“to scratch, scrape”) + -iēs.[2][3][1][4] The verb goes back to Proto-Italic *skaf-e/o- (“to scratch”); de Vaan compares Lithuanian skõbti (“to plane”) and Old High German scaban (“to plane”), which may continue an iterative stem Proto-Indo-European *skobh-.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Cato,[4][5] who warns the farmer to guard sheep and draught animals against the scab, which comes from hunger and rain.[2]

Semantic evolution

It is a roughness of the skin with eruptions and itching, a broad term for eczema-like complaints in people and for mange and scab in animals:[2] Lucilius has a man foul with the scab, and Celsus describes the red skin and pustules.[2] Catullus uses it as a term of abuse, calling two men the scab and famine of the world.[2] Pliny the Elder uses it of a disease of trees and plants, and Virgil of the rust and roughness that corrode iron.[2] Figuratively it is a morbid itch or craving: Cicero speaks of a sweetness and itch that good things lack, Horace of the itch for gain, and Martial of an itch for slander and of lust.[2][6] A children's game, apparently a game of chasing, had the same name.[2] Augustine speaks of the itch of the passions,[6] and medieval British writers also use it of a disease of the bladder.[7] English borrowed it about 1400 as scabies.[8]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato of scab in livestock.[2][4][5]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius of a man foul with the scab.[2]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of a figurative itch.[2]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil of the corrosion of iron.[2][6]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of a disease of trees.[2]
  • 354–430 AD – Augustine of the itch of the passions.[6]
  • c. 1400 – Borrowed into English as scabies, "the itch".[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Roughness of the skin with eruptions and itching; the itch, mange, scab.[2][3][1]
  2. A similar disease of trees and plants.[2]
  3. Roughness from corrosion, mildew or dirt.[2][3][1]
  4. The name of a children's game, apparently a chasing game.[2]
  5. (figurative) A morbid itch, craving; lust.[2][6][1]

Word family

  • scabiola
  • scabiōsus
  • scabitūdō
  • scabidus
  • scaber
  • scabō
  • scobis
  • English scabies

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Scabies.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/scabies. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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