punta Italian · revision 39271

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1294, Guittone d'Arezzo|origins=la pungō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpun.ta/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''punta''' ''f'' (plural punte)^(Wiktionary)

+ An old form is [[roa-oit|ponta]], as in Guittone d'Arezzo.^(GDLI|14)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(DEI|3149)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-lat|puncta|t=a thrust with a point]], the feminine of [[m|la|punctus]] used as a noun, the past participle of [[la|pungō|t=to prick, sting]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) DEI cites the late Latin noun from Vegetius in the sense “a thrust”, and Nocentini explains the sense “point” as a metonymy from it.^(DEI|3149)^(Nocentini 2010) The same word is [[fr|pointe]], [[oc|poncha]], [[ca|punta]], [[es|punta]] and [[pt|ponta]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin verb is a nasal present of [[ine-pro|*pewǵ-|t=to prick]] according to Wiktionary, and de Vaan relates it to [[grc|πυγμή|tr=pugmḗ|t=fist]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The masculine [[punto]] continues the related noun [[m|la|punctum]].^(REW 1935)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Guittone d'Arezzo, before 1294, for the sharp, piercing end of something;^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) GRADIT dates the word to before 1292.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Guittone writes “Non è di lancia ponta, / né di tagliente spata / d'alcun nemico entrata” (“there is no point of a lance, nor entry of an enemy's sharp sword”).^(GDLI|14)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante uses the word for a stab wound in “Poscia ch'io ebbi rotta la persona / di due punte mortali” (“after my body had been broken by two mortal thrusts”).^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The geographical senses follow in the 14th century: a small promontory in Matteo Villani (before 1363) and the sharp summit of a mountain in Ser Giovanni (1378–1385).^(DELI 1999) Filarete uses the word for a fragment or tiny part before 1465, the source of the modern “a touch” (''una punta d'ironia''), and heraldry has it before 1748 for a triangle rising from the base of the shield.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ From the 16th century DEI records ''punta'' for the sharp taste of wine turning sour and, in Berni, for a stabbing pain in the side, the ''mal di punta''; the same sense, “pleurisy”, is found in Logudorese and Friulian.^(DEI|3149)^(REW 1935)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The sense “peak of a phenomenon” appears in 1942, from the points of a graph, and gave ''ora di punta'', the rush hour.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3149) Football has ''punta'' for a striker.^(Wiktionary) The engraving technique ''puntasecca'' is a calque of French ''pointe sèche'' (1765).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1292 – Date of first record in GRADIT.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses ''ponta'' for the point of a lance.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|14)

+ * Before 1363 – Matteo Villani uses the word for a small promontory.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1378–1385 – Ser Giovanni uses it for the summit of a mountain.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1465 – Filarete uses it for a fragment, a tiny part.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1748 – Pietro Giannone uses it as a term of heraldry.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1880 – ''Punta'' for the pointing of a hunting dog is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1942 – Migliorini records the sense “peak of a phenomenon”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|point]], [[m|en|tip]]: the sharp end of an object, a weapon or a tool: ''Attento alla punta delle forbici!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The end of something, not necessarily sharp: ''Aveva la punta delle orecchie rossa dal freddo'', ''camminare in punta di piedi'', to walk on tiptoe.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # The pointed summit of a mountain; a small [[m|en|promontory]] jutting into the sea.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A small amount, a touch: ''Rispose con una punta di sarcasmo.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(figurative)'' The highest level or intensity of a phenomenon, ''ora di punta'', the rush hour: ''In agosto il caldo ha toccato punte di quaranta gradi.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A drill [[m|en|bit]] or a pointed tool.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(football)'' A [[m|en|striker]], forward.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A wound from a pointed weapon, ''(uncommon)'' a stabbing pain.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(butchery)'' ''punta di petto'', a cut of beef from the forequarter.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[puntale]]

+ * [[puntare]]

+ * [[puntata]]

+ * [[puntina]]

+ * [[punteruolo]]

+ * [[puntasecca]]

+ * [[spuntare]]

+ * [[appuntire]]

+ * [[puntone]]

+ * [[puntuto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[punto]]

+ * [[pungere]]

+ * [[fr|pointe]]

+ * [[la|pungō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ GRADIT, Nocentini and the GDLI give a separate ''punta'' derived from [[puntare]] (1880): the pointing of a hunting dog that has scented game, as in ''cane da punta'', a pointer, and in gambling slang the players who place bets, as opposed to the bank.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GDLI|14, 964) Common phrases include ''prendere di punta'', to tackle head-on, ''avere sulla punta della lingua'', to have on the tip of one's tongue, and ''ballare sulle punte'', to dance on points.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}