ocinum Latin · revision 34708

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=grc ὤκινον}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈoː.kɪ.nũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈɔː.t͡ʃi.num]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ōcinum''' ''n'' (genitive ōcinī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short, Georges, Köbler and Wiktionary give it as [[bor|grc|ὤκινον|tr=ṓkinon]],^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)^(Wiktionary) but the TLL notes that this Greek word survives only in Latin sources.^(TLL)

+

+ Varro derived the name from [[m|grc|ὠκέως|tr=ōkéōs|t=quickly]] and also from its quickly moving the bowels of oxen,^(TLL) and Pliny the Elder says it was named because it grows up very fast.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato's ''De agri cultura'' is the first source: it lists ''ocinum'' among the crops to be sown with vetch, fenugreek and beans, and says to give it to the oxen when it is ripe.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word names a fodder crop of the Republican period,^(OLD 2012) which Lewis and Short take to be perhaps a kind of clover.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Varro and Pliny the Elder mention it among fodder plants, and Pliny says that “the old writers” used the name for a fodder that tolerates shade.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato gives directions for sowing it and feeding it to oxen.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro explains the name.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes it as an old name for a fodder plant.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A mixed [[m|en|fodder]] crop, perhaps a kind of [[m|en|clover]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The manuscripts often confuse it with [[ōcimum]] “basil”, and Lewis and Short list ''ōcimum'', ''ōcymum'' and ''ōzymum'' as other spellings.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD notes that the quantity of its vowels is uncertain.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}