scalpellum Latin · revision 36776

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la scalpō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scalpellum''' ''n'' (genitive scalpellī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A masculine form ''scalpellus'' is certain in Celsus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|scalprum|-lum|t1=tool for scraping or cutting]], a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The base noun is in turn formed on [[m|la|scalpō|t=to scratch, carve]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016) as the surgeon's small knife: in the ''Pro Sestio'' and the ''De divinatione'' he speaks of applying the scalpel (''scalpellum adhibēre'').^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was above all the surgical [[m|en|lancet]], used by Celsus, Columella and Pliny the Elder;^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) the OLD also records a similar instrument used in grafting.^(OLD 2012) In the Vulgate, a scribe's knife (''scalpellum scrībae'') is a penknife.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Medieval Latin used it for any small sharp tool for scraping, cutting, engraving or boring, specially for scraping errors off parchment, as well as for the surgeon's knife.^(DMLBS) English borrowed it as [[m|en|scalpel]] in the 18th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the surgeon's knife.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus has the masculine ''scalpellus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it for a scribe's penknife.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1742 – English borrows it as ''scalpel''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small surgical knife, [[m|en|scalpel]], [[m|en|lancet]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # A similar knife used in [[m|en|grafting]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A [[m|en|penknife]] (''scalpellum scrībae'').^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A small tool for scraping, cutting, engraving or boring, especially for erasing writing on [[m|en|parchment]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scalpō]]

+ * [[en|scalpel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}