Etymologically
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tornator

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [tɔrˈnaː.tɔr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [torˈnaː.tor][1]

Forms

tornātor m (genitive tornātōris, feminine tornātrīx); third declension[1] British medieval sources also spell it turnator.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin tornō (“to turn on a lathe”) + -tor.[1][3][4] The verb comes from tornus (“lathe”), borrowed from Ancient Greek τόρνος (tórnos, “turning lathe”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Firmicus Maternus is the first to use it,[4] for a turner, one who shapes things on a lathe.[5][3]

Semantic evolution

A Late Latin word,[2][1] it lived on in medieval Latin, where it could mean a potter as well as a wood-turner.[6] In British sources it is anyone working at a lathe, wheel or similar turning device, and it became a surname.[2]

Timeline

  • 343/350 AD – Firmicus Maternus uses it for a turner.[5][4]
  • 1156 – A charter of Henry II allows nuns to keep a turner of their own in his forest.[2]
  • 1222 – A Willelmus turnator is recorded in the Domesday of St Paul's.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A turner, one who works at a lathe.[5][3][2]
  2. (Medieval Latin) A potter.[6]

Usage notes

Latin glossaries render it with Greek τορνευτής (torneutḗs).[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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
  3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre