urceus Latin · revision 33694

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''urceus''' ''m'' (genitive urceī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Cato has a neuter ''urceum''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a loanword, [[der|grc|ὕρχη|tr=húrkhē|t=earthenware jar]] or from the same source.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Köbler describes the Greek word as a clay vessel for salting fish, and thinks both words came from a Mediterranean language.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD compares [[m|la|orca|t=large jar]] and [[m|la|urna|t=urn]],^(OLD 2012) and Wiktionary derives it from [[m|la|orca]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus;^(Köbler 2010) it is in the ''Miles gloriosus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a vessel for holding or pouring liquids, a pitcher or jug.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cato, Horace, Pliny the Elder, Columella and Martial use it, and Martial and Vitruvius speak of earthenware ones.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Church Latin has it as a jug or earthenware container.^(Stelten 1995) In British medieval texts it is a pitcher or ewer, from Bede on, and in the liturgy a cruet for the altar.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato, in the neuter form.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Medieval Latin – A cruet used at the altar.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|pitcher]], [[m|en|jug]], [[m|en|ewer]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|cruet]] for the altar.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[urceātim]]

+ * [[urceolus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[orca]]

+ * [[urna]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}