spatha

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈspa.tʰa]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈspaː.ta]^[1]

Forms

spatha f (genitive spathae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek σπάθη (spáthē, “any broad blade”).^[2][1][3][4] Celsus has ⟨spata⟩.^[2] Isidore derived the sword's name from Greek ⟨παθεῖν⟩ “to suffer”, or from its breadth.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Celsus, of a stirring blade and a splint.^[2] Köbler dates Celsus 14–37 AD.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant a flat-bladed tool for stirring mixtures, a spatula, as in Celsus and Columella, in surgery a splint, and in Seneca a weaver's batten.^[2][6][7] In Tacitus it meant a broad-bladed sword.^[2][7] In Pliny the Elder it meant the spathe of a palm, and by misuse the tree itself.^[2]

Köbler records it in the early medieval law codes.^[3] British Medieval Latin used it for a spatula and a broad sword, and the sword as the symbol of a duke's or earl's authority.^[8] It survives in Italian spada, French épée and Spanish espada, and French épée gave English epee in 1889; its diminutive spatula gave English spatula.^[1][4]

Timeline

• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of a spatula and a splint.^[2][3]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of a weaver's batten.^[2][3]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of a sword.^[2][3]
• 1889 – English epee is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A flat blade for stirring, a spatula; a splint; a weaver's batten.^[2]
2. A broad-bladed sword.^[2]
3. The spathe of a palm.^[2]

Word family

• spatula
• spathula
• spatulātus
• spathulātus

Related words

• gladius
• English spatula
• English epee
• English spade

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. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ 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