solea

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɔ.ɫe.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɔː.le.a]^[1]

Forms

solea f (genitive soleae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from solum “bottom, sole of the foot, ground”.^[2][1][3] Festus reports Verrius' remark that it means not only what is put under the sole of the foot but also an oak beam on which a wattled wall is built.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a sandal.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the simplest sandal, a sole fastened with thongs, as in Plautus and Horace's diner asking for his sandals after the meal, and soleae ligneae wooden shoes were part of the garb of condemned parricides.^[2][5] Varro uses it of a shoe for a beast of burden, and of the flatfish called the sole.^[2] It also meant a foundation timber for a wall, and in Columella part of an olive press.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a shoe, sandal, and also the entrance to a sanctuary, a sill.^[6] It survives in Italian suola and soglia “threshold”, French seuil, Spanish suela and Portuguese solha “flounder”.^[1] English sole “bottom of the foot” came through Old French and Vulgar Latin *sola in the early 14th century.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a sandal.^[2][4]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the fish and of a shoe for animals.^[2][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace has soleās poscere.^[5][4]
• early 14th century – English sole is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A sandal; a shoe for a beast of burden.^[2]
2. A sole, the flatfish.^[2]
3. A foundation timber.^[2]
4. Part of an olive press.^[2]
5. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A sill, the entrance to a sanctuary.^[6]

Word family

• bisolis
• solearis
• soleārius
• soleātus

Related words

• solum
• calceus
• English sole

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com