laqueus Latin · revision 722

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫa.kʷe.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlaː.kʷe.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''laqueus''' ''m'' (genitive laqueī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ There is no accepted etymology.^(de Vaan 2008) Walde and Hofmann and Pokorny derived it from [[lacio|alt=laciō]] “to entice”, as the OLD and Köbler still do, but de Vaan rejects this because the sounds do not fit and a noose does not follow from that meaning.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline) The TLL also finds that sense a poor match.^(TLL) Wiktionary mentions a possible Proto-Italic *lakʷ- “to ensnare” and a comparison with Balto-Slavic words for bending.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who uses it for a [[m|en|noose]] to hang oneself, ''te in laqueum induas''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word meant a loop of rope with a running knot: a noose used in war to pull aside siege hooks, a halter for hanging, a snare or lasso for animals, and a bond.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Figuratively it meant a trap, as of the snares of the law, and a tie or bond.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Medieval texts use it for the string or strip of parchment by which a seal hangs, and for a lace or tag.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives as French ''lacs'', Italian ''laccio'' and Spanish ''lazo'',^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) the sources of [[en|lace]] and [[en|lasso]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for a hanging noose.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for the snares of the law.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar describes nooses used against siege hooks.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it for snares for wild animals.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – It means the cord by which a seal hangs.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ * early 13th century – Through Old French ''laz'' it gives [[en|lace]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|noose]], halter; a running loop of rope.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A [[m|en|snare]] or lasso for animals.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A bond.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A trap, snare; a tie.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The cord or strip by which a seal is attached; a lace.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[laqueō]]

+ * [[oblaqueō]]

+ * [[ēlaqueō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|lace]]

+ * [[en|lasso]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}