fiscal English · revision 6711

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1563|origins=la fiscus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɪskəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|fiscal]] or directly [[m|la-lat|fiscālis|t=of the state treasury]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|fiscus|t=treasury, purse; originally a basket of twigs]], of unknown origin (see [[fisc]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) MWU compares Greek [[m|grc|πίθος|tr=píthos|t=wine jar]].^(MWU 2024) The etymological idea is the public purse.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to a state treasury: 1563, in John Foxe's ''Book of Martyrs'';^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the 1560s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The general sense, financial, is from 1865, in American English, abstracted from phrases such as ''fiscal year''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) As a noun, a fiscal was a treasury official (1652) and, from 1539 in Spain, Italy and their colonies, a legal officer;^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) in Scotland the [[procurator fiscal]] is a public prosecutor.^(Collins 2023)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1539 – a legal official (noun).^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1563 – relating to a treasury.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1865 – financial; fiscal year.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to government [[revenue]], spending and debt, especially [[taxation]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of or relating to finance: ''the fiscal year''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # In some countries, a public [[prosecutor]]; in Scotland, short for [[procurator fiscal]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fiscally]]

+ * [[nonfiscal]]

+ * [[fiscal year]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[confiscate]]

+ * [[fisc]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}