penis Latin · revision 6113

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpeː.nɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɛː.nis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pēnis''' ''m'' (genitive pēnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is generally derived from [[ine-pro|*pes-ni-|t=penis]], as in [[hit|pešan-|t=man, male]], [[sa|पसस्|tr=pásas|t=penis]] and [[grc|πέος|tr=péos|t=penis]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan argues that the sense “tail” is original, since it appears from Naevius and “penis” only from Catullus, and that the adjective [[m|la|pēnītus|t=having a tail]] points the same way.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) He suggests it may come from *petsni- “feather”, related to Old Latin [[m|la|pesna]], which would also explain [[penna]] “feather” from *petna.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Naevius, who speaks of household gods painted with an ox tail.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its first sense was a tail.^(OLD 2012) Cicero notes that the ancients called a tail ''pēnis'', and Festus records the same.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From Catullus on it meant the male organ, as in Horace, Persius, Martial and Juvenal, and as a familiar nickname.^(OLD 2012) Its diminutive [[pēniculus]] meant a brush or sponge, and Naevius uses it of a painter's brush.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was also a horse's tail.^(DMLBS) English took it as an anatomical term in the 1570s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it of a tail.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of the male organ.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero remarks on its old sense “tail”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1570s – English ''penis'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # The [[m|en|penis]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A horse's tail.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pēnicillum]]

+ * [[pēniculāmentum]]

+ * [[pēniculus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[penna]]

+ * [[en|penis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}