Etymologically
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testa

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtɛs.ta][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtɛs.ta][1]

Forms

testa f (genitive testae); first declension[1]

Etymology

The origin is unknown.[1][2] De Vaan finds a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- (“to build”) unlikely in meaning and form.[3][2] Lewis and Short took it as *tosta “baked”, from torreō, and the Oxford Latin Dictionary compares Avestan tašta- (“cup”).[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cato uses it of bricks or tiles.[6][3] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[7]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a piece of burnt clay, a brick or tile, an earthenware jar or pot, and a shard, as Sisenna's fragments of roof tiles.[5][6] It was the shell of a crustacean or snail, and in Nero's time a kind of applause made with the flat hands, as if with tiles.[5][1]

In Late Latin it came to mean the skull, which gave Italian testa, French tête and Romanian țeastă.[1] Its relative testum “earthen pot”, used in assaying metals, gave English test.[2]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of bricks.[6][7]
  • late 14th century – English test “vessel for assaying” is recorded.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A brick, tile.[4][6]
  2. An earthenware jar, pot.[5][1]
  3. A shard, potsherd.[5][1]
  4. A shell (of a crustacean, snail).[5][1]
  5. A kind of applause with flat hands.[1]
  6. (Late Latin) The skull.[1]

Word family

  • testāceus
  • testārius
  • testātim
  • testeus
  • testūdō
  • testula
  • testum
  • testū
  • testuātium
  • testūdineātus
  • testūdineus
  • English test

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de