Etymologically
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tubus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:18. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈtʊ.bʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtuː.bus][1]

Forms

tubus m (genitive tubī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is related to tuba “trumpet”, from which Wiktionary and Köbler derive it, though the OLD calls it doubtful and Etymonline of unknown origin.[1][2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of a ritual trumpet.[3] Köbler's first source is Vitruvius; he dates Varro 116–27 BC.[2]

Semantic evolution

In the language of ritual it meant a trumpet used at sacrifices, as in Varro.[3][5][6] From Columella it meant a pipe, tube, for water, as in Pliny the Elder, for wine in Palladius, and for heating baths in Seneca.[3][5] In Martial it meant a tubular passage in the body.[3]

British Medieval Latin used it for a tube or pipe, as of an aqueduct.[7] It survives in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese tubo, and French tube gave English tube in the 1590s, first of a passage in the body.[1][4]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a trumpet.[3][2]
  • 1st century AD – Columella uses it of a water pipe.[3][2]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of pipes heating baths.[5][2]
  • 1590s – English tube is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A ritual trumpet.[3]
  2. A pipe, tube; a passage in the body.[3]

Word family

  • tubulātiō
  • tubulātus
  • English tube

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ 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