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sirupus

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word sirupus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1198–1216, Innocent III
Borrowed from
Arabic شراب
Ultimate origin
Arabic شراب

Forms

sirupus m (genitive sirupī); second declension[1][2] Köbler lists it under siropus, with the spellings sirupus, syrupus, syropus, siroppus, siruppus and others.[2] The DMLBS quotations also spell it sirropus, surrup, ciropus and cyrupus.[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Arabic شراب (šarāb, “drink”),[2][1] from the Arabic verb meaning “to drink”.[2][3] Old French sirop has the same Arabic source.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Pope Innocent III,[2] and in medieval medicine it meant a thick liquid made from herbs boiled with sugar, a syrup, often taken as a medicine.[1][2]

Semantic evolution

The Salernitan medical questions explain that sugar is turned into syrup to keep it from spoiling, and Gilbert names syrups by their ingredients, such as an acid one.[1] Accounts from the 1250s record payments for syrups and electuaries.[1] Du Cange defines syrupus as a medicinal potion, glossed in Greek as σύριον (sýrion).[4]

Italian sciroppo comes from the Medieval Latin word;[3] English syrup came from Old French.[3]

Timeline

  • 1198–1216 – Innocent III, Köbler's earliest source.[2]
  • 1252 – An English account records payment for a syrup.[1]
  • 1253 – An account records syrupīs et ēlectuāriīs, syrups and electuaries.[1]
  • late 14th century – English borrows sirup from Old French.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A thick, sweet liquid made from herbs boiled with sugar, a syrup.[1][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin, medicine) A syrup used as a medicine, a medicinal potion.[1][4]

References

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

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Sirupus.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/sirupus. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·