forceps Latin · revision 5621

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈfɔr.kɛps]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfɔr.t͡ʃeps]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''forceps''' ''m'' (genitive forcipis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Festus explains it as [[m|la|formucapes]], “that which takes hot things”, from [[formus]] “hot” and [[capiō]] “to take”, and the OLD, the TLL and Köbler follow this.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan finds the formation artificial and thinks that word may be a folk etymology.^(de Vaan 2008) It has the same meaning as [[forfex]] “shears”, and one is often taken to be a metathesis of the other.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato, who uses it of a pincer formation of troops.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a pair of tongs, especially a smith's tongs for handling hot iron, as the Cyclopes turn the iron with gripping tongs in Virgil.^(OLD 2012) It was also the pincer or claw of a crab, a pincer formation of troops, and pincers for lifting stones.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In medieval Latin it could be a bird's beak, scissors or shears.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) [[en|forceps]] was borrowed as a surgeon's instrument in the 1560s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil has the Cyclopes turn iron with tongs.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1560s – English ''forceps'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Tongs]], [[m|en|pincers]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A claw (of a crab).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(military)'' A pincer formation.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Shears; a bird's beak.^(DMLBS)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[forfex]]

+ * [[formus]]

+ * [[en|forceps]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}