graculus Latin · revision 5972

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=Varro}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɡraː.kʊ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''grāculus''' ''m'' (genitive grāculī, feminine grācula); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It imitates the bird's cry.^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) Quintilian and Isidore of Seville already derived it from its call, and Isidore rejects a derivation from its flying in flocks.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Isidore) It could formally match Slavic *grakati “to caw”, but since ⟨grā-⟩ is plainly imitative, de Vaan does not take this as proof of an Indo-European word.^(de Vaan 2008) Germanic has similar words, as [[non|kráka|t=crow]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Varro.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a jackdaw, and perhaps other birds of the crow kind, as in Phaedrus' fable of the jackdaw in peacock's feathers and in Pliny the Elder.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) The spelling ''grāgulus'' is also found.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was a jackdaw, crow or rook, and also a jay.^(DMLBS) [[en|grackle]] comes from its New Latin genus name ''Gracula'', recorded from 1772.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1772 – English ''grackle'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|jackdaw]]; a bird of the crow kind.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|jay]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[grācula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crōciō]]

+ * [[en|grackle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}