Etymologically
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scarlata

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Forms

scarlata f (genitive scarlatae); first declension[1] Niermeyer also records the spellings scarlieta and scarlacca and the forms scarlatum (neuter) and scarlatus.[1] Köbler adds scarleta, escarleta, escarlata and escallata.[2]

Etymology

It is from Medieval Latin scarlatum (“scarlet, scarlet cloth”), a medieval word with neuter and feminine forms.[2][1] Köbler takes scarlatum as a loanword from a Persian word for a splendid garment, and compares a Hebrew word for red colour.[2] Etymonline reports that the Medieval Latin word, like Old French escarlate and Italian scarlatto, is often said to come from a Middle Eastern source, but that it may rather come from a Germanic source akin to Old High German scarlachen, read as “sheared cloth”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler first finds it in charters of about 1100,[2] where it names a fine scarlet cloth.[1]

Semantic evolution

Niermeyer traces the colour of the cloth: at first it was blue, then of various bright colours, and in the end red.[1] The neuter scarlatum is glossed in Du Cange as cloth dyed with the scarlet grain (coccus, kermes), and he quotes the Philippis of William the Breton for “true grains” that make the squalata red.[4] The word passed into Old French escarlate and Middle English scarlat.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1100 – Charters use scarlata for scarlet cloth.[2][1]
  • mid-13th century – English has scarlet for a rich cloth.[3]
  • late 14th century – English uses scarlet as the name of a bright red colour.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) scarlet cloth, a costly woollen fabric of bright colour, in the end red.[1][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A red garment of this cloth.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre