pilleus Latin · revision 5697

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pilleus''' ''m'' (genitive pilleī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is obscure.^(de Vaan 2008) It resembles [[grc|πῖλος|tr=pîlos|t=felt, felt cap]], from which Saalfeld and Gaffiot derive it, and Wiktionary groups it with [[ru|полсть|tr=polstʹ|t=felt]] and [[goh|filz|t=felt]].^(Saalfeld 1874)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Wiktionary) Driessen thinks it unrelated to the Greek word.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD reconstructs *pilseios and connects [[pilus]] “hair”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whose slave will shave his head and put on the cap of a freedman.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was a close-fitting felt cap, shaped like half an egg.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) A slave set free shaved his head and put on the ''pilleus'', so ''ad pilleum vocāre'' meant to call to freedom, and slaves sold without warranty wore it too.^(OLD 2012) It was worn at the Saturnalia, as Martial says it suits Jupiter, and for medical reasons over a shaved head.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The cap became a symbol of liberty, shown on the coins of Caesar's assassins.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Medieval writers used it of royal, ducal, priestly and academic caps.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus' slave hopes to put on the freedman's cap.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus prescribes a cap for a shaved head.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial speaks of the cap worn at the Saturnalia.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A felt [[m|en|cap]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # The cap of a freed slave, a symbol of [[m|en|freedom]], ''ad pilleum vocāre'', to set free.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A cap of office (royal, clerical, academic).^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pilus]]

+ * [[lībertās]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It is also spelled ''pīleus'', and the neuter ''pilleum'' is found.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}