scamnum Latin · revision 5009

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Cato|origins=ine-pro *skembʰ-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scamnum''' ''n'' (genitive scamnī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*skambno-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*skm̥bʰ-no-|t=support]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sa|स्कम्भ|tr=skambhá|t=prop, pillar]] and [[sa|स्कभ्नाति|tr=skabhnā́ti|t=props up]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The diminutive [[scabellum]] may continue an older *skab-no-.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cato uses it, listing benches in an inventory.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a stool, bench or step to a bed or seat, as in Varro, and Ovid's bench.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In farming it was a ridge left unbroken in ploughing, and in surveying a strip of land measured from west to east.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a rack, a market stall and a salt-pan.^(Niermeyer 1976) In Britain it was a bench in a court or parliament, a church pew, and a ducking stool.^(DMLBS) Its diminutive ''scamillus'' was borrowed early into Germanic as Old English ''scamol'' “stool”, the source of English ''shambles''.^(Etymonline) It survives as [[it|scanno]] and [[es|escaño]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a step to a bed.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''shambles'' “meat market” is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|stool]], [[m|en|bench]], step.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(agriculture)'' An unploughed ridge.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(surveying)'' A strip of land measured breadthwise.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A market stall; a pew.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scamnārium]]

+ * [[scamnātus]]

+ * [[scabellum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|shambles]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}