nassiterna Latin · revision 36881

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nassiterna''' ''f'' (genitive nassiternae); first declension^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ It is also spelled ''nāsiterna'', as in Cato and Varro.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+ Fulgentius has the form ''mnasiterna'', and one manuscript of Plautus has ''nasciterna''.^(Georges 1913)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) The OLD suggests that it may be Etruscan,^(OLD 2012) and Köbler calls its origin unknown.^(Köbler 2010) Lewis and Short derive it from [[m|la|nāsus|t=nose]], explaining it as a watering pot with a large nose or spout,^(Lewis & Short 1879) and the TLL proposes that it was formed from that noun on the model of [[m|la|lanterna|t=lantern]], meaning a vessel provided with a nose.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Plautus,^(Köbler 2010)^(TLL) where in the ''Stichus'' someone calls for a ''nassiterna'' to be brought out with water.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It named a kind of water vessel.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Cato and Varro list it among the equipment of a farm,^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) and Festus, as abridged by Paulus, describes it as a water vessel with handles and a wide opening, of the kind used to pour water over horses.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) Elsewhere Festus calls it an earthenware vessel with two handles.^(TLL) Georges records a derived adjective ''nassiternātus'', “provided with a watering pot”, quoted by Fulgentius.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a vessel for water.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato lists it among farm equipment.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro lists it among farm equipment.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A kind of [[m|en|pot]] for water, perhaps a [[m|en|watering can|alt=watering pot]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nassiternatus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}