trama

Forms

trāma f (genitive trāmae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is probably from Latin trahō (“to draw, drag”): the OLD derives it from ⟨*tragh-sma⟩,^[2] and de Vaan, who lists it among the derivatives of trahō, says it can reflect ⟨*traχ(s)mā-⟩.^[3] Wiktionary compares the ending with rīma, flamma and līma.^[1] Lewis & Short compare trāns and trāmes.^[4]

Varro explained the name by the cold passing through it (⟨trameat⟩).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus on,^[3] who uses tramas putidas, “rotten threads”, as a jesting word for trifles.^[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

In weaving it seems to have meant the warp, as distinct from the weft (subtemen), in Seneca;^[2][5] Pliny the Elder uses it of the threads of a spider's web.^[2][4] Persius calls a lean person trama figurae, a mere skeleton of a figure.^[2][5][6]

In popular Latin it came to mean the weft instead,^[5] the sense in Isidore^[4] and in the Romance descendants.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses tramae putidae for trifles.^[2][7]
• 116–27 BC – Varro gives an etymology of it.^[2][7]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it in a description of weaving.^[2][7]
• 34–62 AD – Persius uses it of a lean person.^[2][7]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville uses it for the weft.^[4][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. In weaving, apparently the warp.^[2][5]
2. The threads of a spider's web.^[2][4]
3. (figurative) trama figurae: a lean, skeletal person.^[2][6]
4. (plural, figurative) tramae putidae: trifles, rubbish.^[5][6]
5. (Late Latin) The weft, woof.^[5][4]

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 m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
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 c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de