catapulta Latin · revision 7649

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Plautus|origins=grc καταπέλτης}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ka.taˈpʊɫ.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ka.taˈpul.ta]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''catapulta''' ''f'' (genitive catapultae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|καταπέλτης|tr=katapéltēs|t=catapult]], from [[m|grc|κατά|tr=katá|t=against, down]] and the base of [[m|grc|πάλλω|tr=pállō|t=to shake, hurl]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Priscian notes it as a Greek masculine that became feminine in Latin.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Gaffiot's earliest citations are from Plautus, of a missile thrown by a catapult.^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC, and his first source is Caesar.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a machine for discharging bolts and other missiles, a catapult, as in Caesar and Livy's catapults and ballistas set on every floor.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Plautus it meant the missile itself.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ British Medieval Latin used it for a catapult and also for an arrow or bolt.^(DMLBS) It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish as ''catapulta'', and through French ''catapulte'' and directly it gave [[en|catapult]] in the 1570s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of a catapult.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of catapults on a tower.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

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

+ # A catapult missile, a bolt.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[catapultārius]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ballista]]

+ * [[en|catapult]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}