mulus Latin · revision 4964

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmuː.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmuː.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mūlus''' ''m'' (genitive mūlī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*musklo-]], or *mukslo-, probably a loanword that came into Europe from Asia Minor in the form *musk- or *muks-.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[grc|μυχλός|tr=mukhlós|t=breeding ass]], [[sq|mushk|t=mule]] and [[orv|мьскъ|tr=mĭskŭ|t=mule]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus speaks of mules that cost more than horses.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a mule, strictly the offspring of a mare and a male ass, as Varro's carriage mules and Cicero's pack mule.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The proverb ''mūtuum mūlī scabunt'' “mules scratch each other” meant one good turn deserves another.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Catullus uses it of a fool, and Marius' soldiers were nicknamed ''mūlī Mariānī'' from their heavy packs.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(OLD 2012)

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+ Through Old English ''mūl'' and Old French ''mul'' it gave English ''mule''.^(Etymonline) It survives as [[it|mulo]], [[es|mulo]] and [[ro|mul]].^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of a fool.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Old English – ''mūl'' “mule” is borrowed from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|mule]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A fool, [[m|en|ass]].^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Mūlī Mariānī'', Marius' soldiers.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mūla]]

+ * [[mūlāris]]

+ * [[mūlīnus]]

+ * [[mūliō]]

+ * [[mulomedicina]]

+ * [[mulomedicus]]

+ * [[mūliōnicus]]

+ * [[mūlocisiārius]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|mule]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ Festus says the mule draws the chariot of the Moon because the Moon is as barren as a mule.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}