merula Latin · revision 35698

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=itc-pro *mesVlā-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈmɛ.rʊ.ɫa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɛː.ru.la]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''merula''' ''f'' (genitive merulae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A masculine ''merulus, -ī'' appears in a fragment of Suetonius and in later Latin.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*mesVlā-|t=blackbird]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) It is cognate with the British Celtic words for the blackbird, [[cy|mwyalch]] and [[br|moualc'h]], and, with a different shape of the stem, with [[goh|amsla]] and [[ang|ōsle]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Because the Latin and British forms and the Germanic ones cannot be reconciled, Schrijver takes it as a loanword from a non-Indo-European substrate language of Europe.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary likewise mentions [[ine-pro|*h₂ems-|t=black, blackbird]] as a northwestern European substrate word,^(Wiktionary) and Köbler calls the origin unclear, perhaps from Pokorny's [[m|ine-pro|*ames-|t=blackbird]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Naevius,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) in a comedy fragment that speaks of a [[m|en|blackbird]] with a beak the colour of sandarach (''merula sanderacino ore'').^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it is the blackbird,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) and by likeness of colour also a dark sea fish, the [[m|en|wrasse]], which Ennius already names.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Pliny the Elder describes the bird several times.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Medieval Latin, alone or as ''merulus'' and ''merulium'', it also meant a [[m|en|crenel]] of a wall.^(Niermeyer 1976) English took the bird's name from Latin as ''merule'' in the late 14th century, and later as ''merle'' through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it for the blackbird.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it for a fish, the wrasse.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian quotes the etymology ''mera volans''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore of Seville explains it from the bird's modulating song.^(Isidore)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – Middle English borrows it as ''merule''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|blackbird]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A dark-coloured sea fish, the [[m|en|wrasse]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|crenel]], a [[m|en|battlement]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[meruleus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|merle]]

+ * [[en|ouzel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Ancient writers explained the name from ''mera volans'', “flying alone”, an etymology Quintilian quotes;^(Lewis & Short 1879) Isidore of Seville adds that it was anciently called ''medula'', from its “modulating” song.^(Isidore) ''Merula'' was also a Roman cognomen, borne for example by Lucius Cornelius Merula, flamen of Jupiter, whom Velleius Paterculus mentions,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) and the name of a river in Liguria.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}