colaphus Latin · revision 33456

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=grc κόλαφος}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''colaphus''' ''m'' (genitive colaphī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Pomponius writes it ''colafus''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+ Quintilian's manuscripts and the glossaries have ''colophus''.^(TLL)

+ Medieval texts also have ''colapus'' and ''colpus''.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|κόλαφος|tr=kólaphos|t=a blow with the fist]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Wiktionary) Köbler compares the Greek word with [[ine-pro|*kel-|t=to strike]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Plautus, who uses it often, mostly in the plural:^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''colapho me icit'', “he hit me with his fist”.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a punch or cuff, a blow with the clenched fist.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Döderlein contrasts it with ''alapa'', a slap with the open hand on the face, given as a light punishment;^(Döderlein 1874) ''colaphus'' is a blow on the head with the fist, given in anger.^(Döderlein 1874) Terence has ''colaphōs infringere'', Quintilian ''colaphum dūcere'', and Seneca has ''colaphīs caedī'', “to be beaten with fists”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) In Medieval Latin it is used of the blows Christ suffered in the Passion.^(MLW)^(DMLBS) Medieval Latin, with the forms ''colapus'' and ''colpus'', also uses it of a blow in general and of the slap in the face given to Jews at Easter.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW) Through ''colpus'' it is the source of French ''coup'' and Italian ''colpo''.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it, often in the plural.^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca has ''colaphīs caedī''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian has ''colaphum dūcere''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it in his poem on virginity.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Medieval Latin – The form ''colpus'' appears, the source of French ''coup''.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A blow with the [[m|en|fist]], a [[m|en|cuff]], a [[m|en|buffet]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A blow in general; the slap in the face given to Jews at Easter.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(MLW)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[colaphizō]]

+ * [[percolopō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alapa]]

+ * [[fr|coup]]

+ * [[it|colpo]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Plautus also uses ''Colaphus'' as a slave's name in the ''Captīvī''.^(Georges 1913)^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}