castrum Latin · revision 6150

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *ḱes-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkas.trũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkas.trum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''castrum''' ''n'' (genitive castrī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*kastro-|t=part, share]], [[inh|ine-pro|*ḱs-tro-]], probably from [[ine-pro|*ḱes-|t=to cut]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[osc|castrous|t=of the estate (?)]] and [[xum|kastruvuf]], perhaps “field, property”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Walde and Hofmann and Ernout and Meillet explain it as a “cut-off part”, a fenced area or property, whence “camp”; the root *ḱes- also gave a noun for “knife” from which [[castrō]] “to castrate” was formed.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The TLL calls it of doubtful origin, and Lewis and Short connected it with [[casa]] “hut”.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Isidore of Seville explained it as a town on a high place, as if a high ''casa''.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus, who already has the plural ''castra''.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the singular it meant a fortified post or settlement, a fort, mostly in place names such as ''Castrum Inuī'' in Virgil and ''Castrum Novum'' in Livy.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its plural [[castra]] was the usual word for a military camp, and its diminutive [[castellum]] meant a fort or fortified village.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant a walled town that was not a city, a castle, a rampart round an abbey, and a bishop's see.^(Niermeyer 1976) In Poland it was a stronghold and the seat of a duke.^(eLexicon Polonorum) Through Old English ''ceaster'' it is the source of English place names such as [[en|Chester]], and through Arabic of Spanish ''alcázar''.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) [[en|castle]] comes from the diminutive ''castellum''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 100–24 BC – Nepos uses it of a fortress in Phrygia.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil names ''Castrum Inuī''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 735 – Old English ''Legacæstir'', Chester, is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A fortified post or settlement, [[m|en|fort]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A walled town, [[m|en|castle]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[castellum]]

+ * [[castra]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[castrō]]

+ * [[en|Chester]]

+ * [[en|castle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}