trochus

Forms

trochus m (genitive trochī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek τροχός (trokhós, “wheel”),^[2][1][3] from τρέχω (trékhō, “to run”).^[4] Köbler traces the Greek to Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to run”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it from Laevius onwards.^[5] Köbler dates Laevius to the 2nd/1st century BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was a metal hoop hung with small rings that jingled, bowled by boys as a game or exercise.^[2][6] Horace speaks of a youth more skilled at playing with the Greek hoop or with forbidden dice, and Propertius, Ovid and Martial mention it too.^[2][3] Pliny the Elder uses it of an unidentified fish.^[2]

British medieval writers used it of a hoop and of a top.^[7] Etymonline says English truck “small wheel”, recorded in the 1610s, is probably from this word.^[4]

Timeline

• 2nd/1st century BC – Laevius uses it.^[5]
• 65–8 BC – Horace mentions the Greek hoop.^[2][5]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a fish.^[2][5]
• 1610s – English truck “small wheel” is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A metal hoop for games or exercise.^[2][1]
2. An unidentified fish.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) A top.^[7]

Related words

• trochlea
• English truck

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ 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