colubra Latin · revision 4907

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔ.ɫʊ.bra], [kɔˈɫʊb.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔː.lu.bra], [koˈlub.ra]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''colubra''' ''f'' (genitive colubrae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) De Vaan sets up [[itc-pro|*kolos-ro-]] and suggests a link with [[colus]] “distaff”, the snake being a “distaff-like” animal that winds round itself, though the form is not straightforward.^(de Vaan 2008) Walde–Hofmann and Pokorny proposed *(s)kelo-dʰro- “winding itself”, and Ernout and Meillet a loan from [[grc|χέλυδρος|tr=khéludros|t=amphibious serpent]], which de Vaan finds very unlikely.^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary and the Oxford Latin Dictionary take it as the feminine of [[coluber]], which de Vaan lists as a later derivative.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it in a proverb: “what's in there?” – “snakes for you to eat”, that is, mind your own business.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a snake, especially the snakes forming the hair of the Furies or Medusa, and a head of the Hydra.^(OLD 2012) Petronius has the proverb “a snake does not give birth to a rope”, like father, like son.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Through Portuguese ''cobra de capello'' “snake of the hood” it gave English ''cobra'', and it is the source of French ''couleuvre''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in a proverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid gives Tisiphone snakes for hair.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius quotes “a snake does not give birth to a rope”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1802 – English ''cobra'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|snake]], [[m|en|serpent]]; a female snake.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # The snakes of the Furies or Medusa; a head of the [[m|en|Hydra]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[coluber]]

+ * [[colubrifer]]

+ * [[colubrimodus]]

+ * [[colubrīnus]]

+ * [[colubrōsus]]

+ * [[colus]]

+ * [[en|cobra]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}