columbus Latin · revision 36425

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kɔˈɫʊm.bʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [koˈlum.bus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''columbus''' ''m'' (genitive columbī, feminine columba); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|columba|t=dove, pigeon]], made as its masculine counterpart.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan finds no clear origin for the feminine; he compares Balto-Slavic words for “blue” and “dove” such as [[prg|golimban|t=blue]] and [[lt|gelumbė̃|t=cloth]], and, further removed in meaning, [[grc|κόλυμβος|tr=kólumbos|t=small diver]], but notes that the forms would need an irregular alternation of the first consonant.^(de Vaan 2008) Lewis and Short also compare the Greek word, and Köbler a root [[ine-pro|*kel-|t=spotted]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has it first,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) in the ''Rudens'', for a male [[m|en|pigeon]].^(Conte 2010)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Varro discusses it as the masculine of [[m|la|columba]], and Catullus uses it, once of a man.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Horace, Columella and Pliny the Elder use it of the dove in general.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) It continues as Italian ''colombo''.^(Conte 2010) A chronicle of Reggio for 1218 tells of captured Saracens who were swimming from the Sultan's army with fire, pigeons and letters.^(Du Cange 1883)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in the ''Rudens''.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro discusses the male and female forms.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a dove in general.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ * 1218 – Under this year, a chronicle of Reggio mentions pigeons carried by Saracens at the siege of Damietta.^(Du Cange 1883)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A male [[m|en|pigeon]] or [[m|en|dove]], a cock pigeon.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A dove in general.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[columbulus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[columba]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}