gallus Latin · revision 5744

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɡal.lʊs]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gallus''' ''m'' (genitive gallī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) The best explanation takes it as “the caller”, from a root *gal- “to call”, with [[cy|galw|t=to call]], [[cu|гласъ|tr=glasŭ|t=voice]] and [[non|kalla|t=to call]]; the root may be onomatopoeic.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Walde and Hofmann preferred [[grc|καλαΐς|tr=kalaḯs|t=cock]], which has a different consonant.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan sees no sign that the bird was named as “the Gaulish one”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the farmyard cock, in full ''gallus gallīnāceus'', as Varro's advice on keeping poultry, and its crowing marked the night watches and served for omens, as Cicero discusses.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca's proverb said the cock rules on his own dunghill.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ It survives in [[it|gallo]], [[es|gallo]] and Old French ''jal''.^(Wiktionary) The feminine [[gallīna]] “hen” survives too, and ''gallicinium'' “cockcrow” named the last watch of the night.^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro writes on keeping poultry.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero discusses the crowing of cocks as an omen.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|cock]], rooster.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gallicinium]]

+ * [[gallīna]]

+ * [[gallulus]]

+ * [[gallicus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Gallus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Gallus'' with a capital letter is a Gaul, and also a eunuch priest of Cybele, named, ancient writers said, from the Phrygian river Gallus, whose water made men mad.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Isidore derived the bird's name from castration, saying that it alone among birds was gelded.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}