Etymologically
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vimineus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [wiːˈmɪ.ne.ʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [viˈmiː.ne.us][1]

Forms

vīmineus (feminine vīminea, neuter vīmineum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vīmen (“pliant twig, osier”) + -eus.[2][1] De Vaan derives vīmen from vieō (“to plait”), tracing it to Proto-Italic *weimn- (“branch for plaiting”) and Proto-Indo-European *weh₁i-mn (“plaiting”).[3] Cognate with Sanskrit व्ययति (vyáyati, “winds, wraps”), Lithuanian výti (“to twist, wind”) and Ancient Greek ἴτυς (ítus, “felloe, rim of a shield”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus,[3][4] but Georges notes that the passage of the Epidicus is now read ulmeī fascēs.[5] It is found in Varro,[6] and Caesar has wicker coverings, tegumenta vīminea.[7][6]

Semantic evolution

It means made of osiers or wickerwork.[2][7] Hirtius writes of a small wicker breastwork, Virgil of a wicker harrow (crātēs), and Propertius also uses it;[7][5][6] Pliny the Elder has a willow used for wickerwork, Jerome a wicker basket and Ammianus wicker hurdles and mantlets.[7][5]

British medieval writers used it of things made of twigs or wickerwork, sometimes figuratively:[8] Gerald of Wales describes wickerwork houses at the edge of woods and wicker fishing boats.[8]

Timeline

  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.[6][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar writes of wicker coverings.[7][4]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a wicker harrow.[7][4]
  • c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it of a basket.[5][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Made of osiers or wickerwork.[2][7]
  2. (of a willow) Used for wickerwork.[7][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ 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