nassa Latin · revision 6037

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnas.sa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnas.sa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nassa''' ''f'' (genitive nassae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*nasso-]], from [[ine-pro|*nHd-to-|t=tied, knotted]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sga|nascaid|t=binds]], [[sga|naidm|t=bond]], [[got|𐌽𐌰𐍄𐌹|tr=nati|t=net]] and [[en|net]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan notes it is disputed which forms belong together; if [[nōdus]] “knot” is cognate, it would need a different explanation.^(de Vaan 2008) If Germanic *nati- belongs here, there was a root *nad- “to bind, plait” shared by Germanic, Italic and Celtic.^(de Vaan 2008) Festus and Isidore of Seville describe it.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, whom Festus quotes: “never shall I seek food from that weel today”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a wicker trap with a narrow neck for catching fish, a weel, which Festus defines as a fisherman's vessel from which a fish cannot get out once it is in.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Figuratively it meant a trap, a tight spot, as in Plautus and in Cicero's letters.^(Gaffiot 2016) The form ''naxa'' is also found.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was a fish-trap or fish-basket.^(DMLBS) It survives in [[fr|nasse]], [[it|nassa]] and [[es|nasa]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it figuratively.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a tight spot.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of fish traps.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A wicker fish trap, [[m|en|weel]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # (figurative) A [[m|en|trap]], a tight spot.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nōdus]]

+ * [[nectō]]

+ * [[en|net]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}