culter Latin · revision 31979

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=itc-pro *k(e/o)l-tro-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈkʊɫ.tɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈkul.ter]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''culter''' ''m'' (genitive cultrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*k(e/o)l-tro-|t=knife]], from [[ine-pro|*(s)kolh₂/₃-tro-|t=instrument for cleaving]], if it belongs to the root “to split, cleave”;^(de Vaan 2008) Leumann explained it instead by dissimilation from ⟨*ke/ortro-⟩, from the root [[ine-pro|*(s)ker-|t=to shear, cut off]], but de Vaan prefers the root in ⟨-l-⟩, which needs no extra assumption.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The OLD calls it doubtful and compares [[non|skalm]].^(OLD 2012) Cognate with [[grc|σκάλλω|tr=skállō|t=to stir up, hoe]] and [[hit|iškalla-|t=to slit, split]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has “I have a sharp knife to gut the old man's purse”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a knife, especially one for slaughtering sacrificial animals, as in Cato, a hunting knife or weapon, as Livy's man girded with a knife, and a razor, as Plautus' old man at the barber's.^(OLD 2012) Columella uses it of the straight-edged part of a vine-dresser's pruning hook, and Grattius of the point of a spear;^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder uses it of the coulter of a plough.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Vitruvius has ''in cultrum collocāre'' “to set on edge”.^(OLD 2012) In Medieval Latin it is the coulter,^(Niermeyer 1976) and English [[m|en|coulter]] comes from it through Old English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a sharp knife and of razors.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of slaughtering victims.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of a man girded with a knife.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder of the plough's coulter.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|knife]], especially for slaughter or sacrifice; a hunting knife; a [[m|en|razor]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The straight edge of a pruning hook; the point of a spear; the [[m|en|coulter]] of a plough.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''in cultrum collocāre'', to set on edge.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cultrārius]]

+ * [[cultrātus]]

+ * [[cultellus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|coulter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}