tomentum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [toːˈmɛn.tũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [toˈmɛn.tum]^[1]

Forms

tōmentum n (genitive tōmentī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

Its origin is uncertain.^[2] Walde and Hofmann and Pokorny derived it from *towementom, from the root Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- (“to swell”) of tumeō, perhaps through a causative “to stuff”.^[2][1][3] De Vaan notes that it could come from an older *tōmen < *teuh₂-mn̥, or be built on verb forms, but no such verb survives in Latin, which weakens the explanation.^[2] Ernout and Meillet hesitantly suggested tondeō “to shear”.^[2] Isidore of Seville derived it from swelling in the thread or the cloth.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Varro.^[2] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant flock or similar material for stuffing cushions and mattresses, wool, hair, feathers or straw, and tōmentum Circēnse was a stuffing of rushes for the seats at the Circus.^[3][6][7] Tacitus and Suetonius use it, and Pliny the Elder names the materials.^[6]

In Medieval Latin it meant padding, especially the woolly nap sheared from cloth.^[8] English tomentum is a borrowing of it.^[1]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^[2][5]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes stuffing materials.^[6][5]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it.^[6][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. Stuffing for cushions and mattresses, flock.^[3]
2. (Medieval Latin) Padding; the nap sheared from cloth.^[8]

Related words

• tueor
• tumeō
• English tomentose

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ a b 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