sclavus

Forms

sclavus m (genitive sclavī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Byzantine Greek Σκλάβος (Sklábos, “Slav”), from a shortening of Proto-Slavic *slověninъ (“a Slav”).^[1][2] The ethnic name came to mean “slave” in Medieval Latin because many Slavs were sold into slavery.^[2][1]

Through Old French esclave and directly from Medieval Latin it is the source of English slave;^[2] the Latin word is also the source of Italian schiavo, French esclave and Spanish esclavo.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Etymonline dates Medieval Latin Sclavus “Slav” to about 800 and its Byzantine Greek source to about 580.^[2] In a letter of 790 Alcuin writes that the king attacked the Sclavi, whom “we” call Vionudi.^[3]

Semantic evolution

As an ethnic name it meant a Slav, and in British sources especially a Wend.^[3] The sense “captive, slave” is Medieval Latin:^[4][3][1] English records of 1195 list payments for six slave women (esclavi),^[3] and Matthew Paris explains that captives were called Sclavi.^[5] Köbler glosses the noun as both “slave” and “Slav”, noting that Latham separates the two senses.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 580 – Byzantine Greek Σκλάβος is recorded.^[2]
• 790 – Alcuin writes of the Sclavi attacked by the king.^[3]
• 939 – Köbler's first dated source, a diploma.^[6]
• 1195 – An English Pipe Roll records payments for slaves.^[3]
• c. 1300 – Borrowed into English as sclave, later slave.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, often capitalised) a Slav; a Wend.^[3][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) a slave, captive.^[4][3][5][1]

Related words

• English slave
• English Slav

References

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