scalpo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈskaɫ.poː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈskal.po]^[1]

Forms

scalpō (present infinitive scalpere, perfect active scalpsī, supine scalptum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is perhaps inherited from Proto-Italic *skalp-, from Proto-Indo-European *sk(e)lp- (“to split off”).^[2][1] De Vaan compares Lithuanian sklem̃bti (“to slide off”) and Germanic *skelf- “to split off”, as in Old High German scelifa (“outer skin”).^[2] The Oxford Latin Dictionary compares Ancient Greek σκάλοψ (skálops, “mole”).^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Sisenna uses it, and Plautus already has scalpurrīre “to keep scratching”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to scratch with the nails, as Plautus' “why are you scratching at the door?”, and to scrape.^[3][5] It was to carve or engrave, as Pliny's report that Phidias carved marble, and to dig, as in Horace.^[3][5] Lewis and Short say it was used of surface work, against sculpō, deeper carving.^[4]

Its noun scalprum “scraping tool” and diminutive scalpellum gave English scalpel.^[6] sculpō was formed from its compounds, and gave sculpture.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses scalpurrīre.^[2][7]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of carving marble.^[3][7]
• 1742 – English scalpel is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To scratch (with the nails); to scrape.^[3][1]
2. To carve, engrave.^[3][1]

Word family

• ascalpo
• circumscalpō
• exscalpo
• scalptor
• scalptōrium
• scalptūra
• scalpurriō
• subscalpo
• auriscalpium
• dentiscalpium
• dēsculpō
• exsculpō

Related words

• sculpō
• English scalpel
• English sculpture

References

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