rastrum Latin · revision 34288

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la rādō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈraːs.trũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈras.trum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''rāstrum''' ''n'' (genitive rāstrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The plural is usually masculine, ''rāstrī'', beside a rarer neuter ''rāstra''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ Georges gives a masculine singular ''rāster''.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|rādō|-trum|t1=to scrape]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Georges 1913) De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of [[m|la|rādō]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*rasd-e/o-]], with cognates in [[cy|rhathu]] and [[br|rahein]] “to scrape, shave”.^(de Vaan 2008) It has often been explained from a form with /dt/, but de Vaan notes that the long /aː/ is not proven, so that the noun could also go back to a form with a short vowel.^(de Vaan 2008) Compare [[rādula]] and [[rāllum]], from the same verb.^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan records it from Plautus on,^(de Vaan 2008) and Lewis and Short cite the accusative plural ''rastros'' in Plautus' ''Mercator'' and in Cato's work on agriculture, where he lists hoes with four teeth, ''rastros quadridentes''.^(Lewis & Short 1879) The sense is a toothed [[m|en|hoe]] for breaking up the soil.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It named a drag-hoe or rake, a tool with two or more teeth for breaking clods and weeding.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Virgil speaks of the man who breaks the sluggish clods with hoes, ''rastris glebas qui frangit inertes'', and Columella of wooden rakes.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Terence has the proverb ''mihi illaec vero ad rastros res redit'', “this will bring me to the hoe”, that is, I shall have to work for my living.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Ovid uses it comically of the comb of Polyphemus.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Medieval Latin from Britain it meant a rake and a drag-hoe or mattock, and glossaries explain it with Old English words.^(DMLBS) It lives on in [[it|rastro]], [[es|rastro]], [[ca|rastre]] and [[ro|rastru]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has the accusative plural ''rastros''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato writes of ''rastros quadridentes''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence has the proverb ''ad rastros res redit''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it for breaking clods.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(usually plural)'' A toothed [[m|en|hoe]], [[m|en|drag-hoe]], [[m|en|rake]] or [[m|en|mattock]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A rake; a drag-hoe.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rādō]]

+ * [[rādula]]

+ * [[rāllum]]

+ * [[rāstellus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The proverb ''ad rastros res redit'' (“it comes down to the hoe”) meant being reduced to working the land for a living.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}