baca Latin · revision 4803

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=Cato}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈbaː.ka]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbaː.ka]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bāca''' ''f'' (genitive bācae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelt ''bacca''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unknown.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) A link with [[grc|Βάκχος|tr=Bákkhos|t=Bacchus]] is uncertain, since the Greek name was probably borrowed from Lydian.^(de Vaan 2008) Boutkan and Kossmann compared a Berber word for “berry”, and Wiktionary mentions a sound-symbolic root shared with [[lt|bapkas|t=berry, laurel]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was any small fruit of a tree or shrub, a berry, drupe or nut, and especially the olive, as in Cicero's fruits of the trees and the earth.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It was also a pearl, as the pearl dissolved in vinegar in Horace.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Britain it was glossed with Old English “berry”.^(DMLBS) Through Old French ''baie'' it gave English ''bay'', at first the laurel berry and then the laurel itself.^(Etymonline) It survives as [[it|bacca]] and [[fr|baie]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a pearl.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''bay'' “laurel berry” is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|berry]] or other small fruit of a tree or shrub; an [[m|en|olive]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|pearl]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A bead of coral.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bācālis]]

+ * [[bācātus]]

+ * [[bācifer]]

+ * [[bacō]]

+ * [[bācula]]

+ * [[quadribācium]]

+ * [[bacar]]

+ * [[baccalaureus]]

+ * [[bacciballum]]

+ * [[bacriō]]

+ * [[quadribaccium]]

+ * [[tribacca]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|bay]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}