roba Italian · revision 37732

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=second half of the 13th century, Parafrasi del Decalogo|origins=gem-pro *raubaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈrɔ.ba/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''roba''' ''f'' (plural robe)^(Wiktionary)

+ The form ''robba'', used from the 14th to the 16th century, is still Umbrian, Aretine, Cortonese, Lazian and southern.^(DEI|3272)^(Prati 1951|846) There was also [[roa-oit|rubba]].^(GDLI|16, 1097)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frk|*rauba|t=booty; armour; garment]], a Germanic word that meant both the spoils of war and the clothes taken as spoils.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Nocentini calls the source West Germanic, Wiktionary posits [[la-vul|rauba]] from Frankish or Gothic, and Zaccaria and Körting start from [[goh|roub]], modern [[de|Raub]] “robbery”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Zaccaria 1901)^(Körting 1907) The ultimate source is [[gem-pro|*raubaz]].^(Wiktionary) The same word gave [[fr|robe]], [[oc|rauba]], [[ca|roba]], [[es|ropa]] and [[pt|roupa]], and, from the related verb Italian has [[rubare]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Devoto 1968) The English cognates are [[m|en|robe]] (through French) and [[m|en|reave]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the northern ''Parafrasi del Decalogo'' of the second half of the 13th century, for what one owns or needs to live; the GDLI quotes it: “n'à aquistata la roba con sudore” (they acquired the goods for us with sweat).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|16, 1097) A Florentine text of 1291 has ''roba'' for a complete suit of clothes, and Bono Giamboni uses it before 1292 for spoils taken from the enemy.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante's “lo villanello a cui la roba manca” (the peasant who lacks provisions) shows the sense “food, supplies” before 1321.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|16, 1097) Boccaccio uses ''roba'' for any material object (1348–1353), and for a garment in his lives of the Fathers.^(DELI 1999) Through the centuries the word kept its general sense of “goods, possessions”, as in Verga's “non aveva altro che la sua roba” (he had nothing but his property).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ The sense “fabric” is recorded in 1939–1940 and “merchandise” in 1959.^(DELI 1999) The slang sense “drugs” translates English ''stuff''.^(GDLI)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Robivecchi'' “junk dealer” comes from ''robe vecchie'', in the Judaeo-Roman form ''robbi vecchi''.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) French ''robe'' took from Italian the expression ''de bonne robe'' “of good quality” (1552).^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Second half of the 13th century – The ''Parafrasi del Decalogo'' uses ''roba'' for possessions.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1291 – A Florentine text uses it for a suit of clothes.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for provisions.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1536 – Pietro Aretino uses ''robbone'', a long gown.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1552 – French ''de bonne robe'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * About 1793 – ''Robivecchi'' is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1939–1940 – The sense “fabric” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Things, [[m|en|stuff]], any object or objects: ''Di chi è questa roba sul tavolo?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The material something is made of: ''Di che roba è fatta questa borsa?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # One's things, personal belongings: ''Prendi la tua roba e vattene.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Possessions, property, wealth: ''Ha lasciato tutta la sua roba ai figli.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Furniture and household goods.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Food and drink: ''roba da mangiare''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # [[m|en|clothes]], clothing; linen: ''roba da stirare''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Fabric, cloth.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|merchandise]], goods: ''roba usata''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A matter, business: ''Sono robe che non ti interessano.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(slang)'' [[m|en|drugs]].^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[robivecchi]]

+ * [[robone]]

+ * [[robaccia]]

+ * [[robetta]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rubare]]

+ * [[fr|robe]]

+ * [[es|ropa]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Roba da matti!'' and ''roba da chiodi!'' express amazement at something absurd.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Roba da camera'', a dressing gown, is a calque of French ''robe de chambre''.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}