trilix

Forms

trilīx (genitive trilīcis); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1] Isidore has a nominative trilicis.^[2]

Etymology

It is from tri- “three” and līcium “thread, leash of a loom”, matching Ancient Greek τρίμιτος (trímitos, “of three threads”).^[3][1][4] Etymonline calls ⟨līcium⟩ a word of unknown origin.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Virgil, whom he dates 70–19 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant having a triple thread, triple-twilled, as of a coat of mail woven with three sets of leashes in Virgil and Martial's tunics.^[3][2]

British Medieval Latin used it for of triple thread, of chain mail of three-ply mesh, and as a noun for a hauberk.^[6] According to the OED, Vulgar Latin ⟨*trilīcius⟩, from it, gave Old French trelis and English trellis in the late 14th century.^[4] Köbler traces Old English þrilen “triple-woven” and German Drillich to it.^[5]

Timeline

• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of mail.^[5][2]
• 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of tunics.^[2][5]
• late 14th century – English trellis is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of triple thread, triple-twilled.^[3]
2. (Medieval Latin) (of mail) Triple-meshed; a hauberk.^[6]

Related words

• līcium
• trēs
• English trellis

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ 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