columba Latin · revision 31781

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kɔˈɫʊm.ba]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [koˈlum.ba]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''columba''' ''f'' (genitive columbae, masculine columbus); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The masculine is ''columbus''.^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008)

+ Varro notes that formerly both males and females were called ''columbae''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan compares the Balto-Slavic words for “blue” and “dove”, as [[prg|golimban|t=blue]], [[cu|голѫбь|tr=golǫbĭ|t=pigeon, dove]] and [[ru|го́лубь|tr=gólubʹ|t=pigeon]], which point to ⟨*ge/ol-o/embi/o-⟩ “blue”, hence “dove”; if ⟨columba⟩ belongs with them, an irregular alternation in the first consonant must be assumed.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD and the TLL compare [[grc|κόλυμβος|tr=kólumbos|t=small diving bird]], and Wiktionary derives it from that Greek word.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) Varro derived the name from the birds' cry, and also from [[columen|t=gable]], where they nest;^(TLL) Isidore from the changing colours of their necks.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) whose ''Asinaria'' has girls who opened their mouths like dove chicks whenever they were given something.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the pigeon or dove, kept in towers and on farm buildings.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) It is the bird of Venus, a symbol of love, as in Martial's kisses imitating coaxing doves, and the type of gentleness, contrasted with eagles: Horace says fierce eagles do not breed the unwarlike dove.^(OLD 2012) Plautus already uses it as an endearment, “call me your duckling, your dove”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In the early Church the word also named a dove-shaped vessel for the Eucharist.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of dove chicks and as an endearment.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro on keeping pigeons.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace of the gentle dove.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains the name from the birds' necks.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|pigeon]], [[m|en|dove]]; the bird of Venus; a type of gentleness.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A term of endearment, “dove”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A dove-shaped vessel for the Eucharist.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[columbāre]]

+ * [[columbārius]]

+ * [[columbatim]]

+ * [[columbīnus]]

+ * [[columbor]]

+ * [[columbula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[columbārium]]

+ * [[columbus]]

+ * [[palumbus]]

+ * [[palumbēs]]

+ * [[en|columbine]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}