mulleus Latin · revision 5187

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmʊl.le.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmul.le.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mulleus''' (feminine mullea, neuter mulleum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Wiktionary) Driessen, followed by de Vaan, takes the original form to be ''mullus'', remade as ''mulleus'' after [[calceus]] “shoe”, with which it always occurs, and reconstructs [[itc-pro|*molwo-]], from PIE *ml̥-wo-, comparing [[lt|mul̃vas|t=reddish, yellowish]].^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD instead derives it from [[ine-pro|*mel-|t=dark]], as in [[grc|μέλας|tr=mélas|t=black]], and Köbler agrees.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) Driessen rejects this on phonetic grounds.^(de Vaan 2008) A link with [[mullus]] “red mullet” is considered folk etymology.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

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

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It described red shoes, ''calceī mulleī'', high-soled and worn by patricians.^(OLD 2012) Isidore describes them.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short say they were worn by the three highest magistrates, and Festus reports that the kings of Alba wore them first, then the patricians, deriving the name from ''mullāre'' “to sew”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Used alone, ''mulleus'' meant such a shoe.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

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+ In medieval British Latin it was a kind of shoe.^(DMLBS) Through the feminine it is the source of [[fr|mule]] and [[it|mula]], and it was borrowed as [[en|mule]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 2nd half of the 2nd century AD – Festus explains the name of the shoe.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 560–636 AD – Isidore describes the shoes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(of shoes)'' Red, ''calceī mulleī'', red high-soled shoes of the patricians.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A red patrician [[m|en|shoe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mulleolus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[calceus]]

+ * [[en|mule]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}