pituita Latin · revision 35695

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=234–149 BC, Cato}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pītuīta''' ''f'' (genitive pītuītae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ In Horace and Persius it scans as three syllables.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The etymology is unknown.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan considers the comparison of Walde, Hofmann, Ernout and Meillet with a Sanskrit tree name a guess.^(de Vaan 2008) A first part ⟨pītu-⟩ might belong to the root [[ine-pro|*piH-|t=to be fat, abound]], but this has neither morphological support nor an obvious meaning; it might also share a root with [[pinus|alt=pīnus]] “pine”, as a resin-like substance.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler places it under Pokorny's [[m|ine-pro|*peitu-|t=fat, juice, drink]].^(Köbler 2010) The TLL compares the formation of [[fortuitus|alt=fortuītus]] and [[gratuitus|alt=grātuītus]].^(TLL)

+

+ Lewis and Short connected it with [[m|la|spuō|t=to spit]] and [[grc|πτύω|tr=ptúō|t=to spit]],^(Lewis & Short 1879) and Wiktionary suggests that it may be imitative.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Cato,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) meaning [[m|en|phlegm]]: in the ''De agri cultura'' a remedy “will drive out so much bile and phlegm” (''tantum bilis pituitaeque eiciet'').^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In medicine it is mucus or phlegm, and a cold in the head;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Celsus uses it of a morbid discharge, such as matter that collects in the corners of diseased eyes.^(OLD 2012) Pliny the Elder applies it to a disease of poultry, the [[m|en|pip]], and to the sticky matter that oozes from trees.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it for phlegm.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it as a word of three syllables.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it for a morbid discharge.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a poultry disease and of the ooze from trees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|mucus|alt=Mucus]], [[m|en|phlegm]], [[m|en|catarrh]]; a head cold.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A disease of poultry, the [[m|en|pip]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A purulent or morbid discharge.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A viscous [[m|en|exudation]] from trees.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pītuītāria]]

+ * [[pītuītōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pīnus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}