trulla

Forms

trulla f (genitive trullae); first declension^[1] The jurist Scaevola has the form truella.^[2]

Etymology

It is a diminutive of trua (“ladle”), with -ella.^[2][3][1] The OLD suggests that ⟨trua⟩ may itself be a back-formation from ⟨trulla⟩, and compares Ancient Greek τορύνη (torúnē, “stirring spoon”).^[2] Wiktionary calls the origin of trua disputed, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *terkʷ- (“to turn”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cato,^[4] whose work on farming has it.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It is a small ladle, dipper or scoop, especially for dipping wine from the mixing bowl into the cups,^[3] named by Varro, Cicero in the Verrines, Horace, Martial and Pliny the Elder.^[3] Livy uses it of iron scoops on poles projecting from the prows of ships, carrying fire to throw onto enemy vessels.^[2] Late Latin truella passed into Old French as truele, the source of English trowel.^[5]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato, among farm equipment.^[3][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy, of fire scoops on warships.^[2][4]
• mid-14th century – English trowel, through Old French truele.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A small ladle, dipper or scoop, especially for wine.^[2][3][1]
2. An iron scoop for throwing fire onto enemy ships.^[2]

Word family

• trullissō

Related words

• trua
• English trowel

References

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