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vectigal

Etymology and origin of the Latin word vectigal

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (vehō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [wɛkˈtiː.ɡaɫ][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [vekˈtiː.ɡal][1]

Forms

vectīgal n (genitive vectīgālis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of the adjective vectīgālis “taxable”, used as a noun, with its ending shortened.[1][2] Lewis and Short derive it from vectus, the participle of vehō “to carry”, as a toll on goods carried.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Cato, of public revenue.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant revenue from public property accruing to the Roman state, or later to cities, a toll, tax, impost, as in Cato and Cicero.[2][3] It also meant particular payments, such as a governor's allowance or the levy an aedile raised for games, and private income or the produce that provides it, as in Cicero.[2] Suetonius has the genitive plural vectīgāliōrum.[3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant revenue, rent.[5] In Medieval Latin it meant all kinds of rents and charges paid by dependants, and a tax, duty or tribute.[6][7]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of public revenue.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of taxes and of private income.[2][4]
  • c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius has the genitive plural vectīgāliōrum.[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Public revenue; a tax, toll.[2][3]
  2. A special levy or allowance.[2]
  3. Private income.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Rents and charges.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  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
Cite this entry

“Vectigal.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/vectigal. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·