Etymologically
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troppus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈtrɔp.pʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈtrɔp.pus][1]

Forms

troppus m (genitive troppī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Frankish *þorp,[1] a word of Germanic origin.[2][3] Wiktionary derives the Frankish word from Proto-Germanic *þurpą (“group, crowd, village”) or from *þruppaz (“cluster”).[1] Etymonline calls it of unknown origin but perhaps from the same Germanic source.[4]

It is the source of French troupe, Italian truppa and Spanish tropa,[1] and the OED derives French troupe, the source of English troop, from it.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Lex Alamannorum, of 712–725 according to Köbler, uses it for a herd of horses: whoever steals the lead mare in troppō dē iūmentīs, “from a herd of beasts”.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It is a Medieval Latin word for a herd or flock.[3][1][5] An Alemannic charter for the monastery of St Gall gives horses cum cēterō troppō, “with the rest of the herd”.[5] It also appears in glosses and charters, and an Old High German gloss renders it with a word for a stud of horses.[2]

Timeline

  • 712–725 AD – The Lex Alamannorum uses it of a herd of horses.[2][5]
  • Medieval Latin – A charter for St Gall uses it of a herd.[5]
  • 1540s – English troop is borrowed from French troupe.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) a herd, flock (especially of horses).[3][1][5][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d e f du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre