Etymologically
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stabulum

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsta.bʊ.ɫũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstaː.bu.lum][1]

Forms

stabulum n (genitive stabulī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *staðlom, from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”) with the instrument suffix ⟨*-dʰlom⟩.[1] By surface analysis it is stō “to stand” with the suffix -bulum.[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of a stable and of travellers' lodging.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

Its general sense, a standing place, abode, is very rare, as Plautus' stabile stabulum.[4][5] It meant a building for animals, a stable, stall, fold, as in Varro, by metonymy the animals in it, and in Catullus the lair of wild beasts.[2][5] It meant lodging for travellers, an inn, as in Plautus, also used as a brothel, as in Cicero, and as a term of abuse.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a stable, stall, dwelling, inn.[6] In Medieval Latin a comes stabulī was the overseer of the stables, the origin of Middle Low German konstabel and Old Norse konstabl.[3] English stable came in the early 13th century through Old French estable and directly from Latin.[7] It survives in Spanish establo, Italian stabbio and Romanian staul.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a stable and an inn.[2][3]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of animal stalls.[5][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a brothel.[2][3]
  • early 13th century – English stable is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An abode.[4]
  2. A stable, stall, fold; a lair.[2]
  3. Lodging for travellers, an inn; a brothel.[2]

Word family

  • stabulārius
  • naustibulum
  • stabulō

References

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