ratis Latin · revision 5915

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ratis''' ''f'' (genitive ratis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Its origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) It has been connected with [[rētae]] “trees in a riverbed” and with [[goh|ruota|t=rod]], [[non|róða|t=rod, pole]], which de Vaan finds not compelling in sense.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) He suggests *Hrh₁-ti- “the rowing”, from the root [[ine-pro|*h₁reh₁-|t=to row]] of [[rēmus]] “oar”, noting that rafts are pushed and steered with a pole.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) Varro explained the ''ratis'' as a long ship named from its oars, which look like two rafts when raised on each side.^(Varro)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a raft of beams joined together, as Cicero's and Caesar's rafts, and a flying bridge in Livy.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In poetry it meant any boat or ship, as Ennius' ships on which the rain of Neptune roared.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was a small boat, as Gildas' ships that brought foreign luxuries up the Thames and Severn.^(DMLBS) A different ''ratis'' was the Gaulish name of a fern.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(TLL) [[fr|radeau]] is a borrowing of it.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of ships.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of rafts.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|raft]]; a flying bridge.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(poetic)'' A [[m|en|boat]], ship.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ratiārius]]

+ * [[ratītus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rēmus]]

+ * [[en|radeau]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}