torosus

Forms

torōsus (feminine torōsa, neuter torōsum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin torus (“bulge, muscle”) + -ōsus.^[2][1] De Vaan considers the origin of torus unclear.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first dated use is in Catullus, of the brawny neck of a lion.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The OLD defines it as having a surface full of knots or bulges.^[2] Pliny the Elder uses it of knobbly tentacles, roots and stalks, and of fleshy plants,^[2][5] and an elegy on Maecenas of a knotted club.^[2] More specifically it meant muscular or brawny: Ovid has it of the necks of oxen, Columella of bulls and foals, and Persius of young men.^[2][5]

Timeline

• 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of a lion's neck.^[2][4]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of the necks of oxen.^[2][4]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses the comparative of a bull's neck.^[2][4]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of roots and stalks.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Knotty, knobbly, full of bulges.^[2]
2. Muscular, brawny.^[2][5]
3. (of plants) Fleshy.^[5]

Word family

• torosulus

Related words

• torus

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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 c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press