fossorium

Latin

Etymology 1

From fodiō (to dig, dig up) +‎ -tōrium, or nominalized from the neuter of fossōrius.

Noun

fossōrium n (genitive fossōriī or fossōrī); second declension

  1. (Late Latin, Early Medieval Latin) a spade, an implement for digging
    Synonym: scudicia
    • early 7th c. CE, Isidore of Seville, Etymologiae sive Origines 20.14.7:[1]
      Scudicia dicta eo, quod circa codicem terram aperiat; et quamvis eius usus in reliquis operibus habeatur, nomen tamen ex codice retinet. hanc alii generaliter fossorium vocant, quasi fovessorium.
      • 1967 translation by K. D. White
        The scudicia is so called because it opens the earth around the base (of the plant); and although it is used for other operations, it still retains its name from the base (codex). Others commonly call it a trenching tool, as if the word were derived from fovea (a hole).
    • c. 1264, Vincent of Beauvais, Speculum doctrinale:
      Sarculum, sarpa vel fossorium
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Inflection

Second-declension noun (neuter).

singular plural
nominative fossōrium fossōria
genitive fossōriī
fossōrī1
fossōriōrum
dative fossōriō fossōriīs
accusative fossōrium fossōria
ablative fossōriō fossōriīs
vocative fossōrium fossōria

1Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

Etymology 2

Adjective

fossōrium

  1. nominative neuter singular of fossōrius

References

  1. ^ K. D. White (1967) Agricultural Implements of the Roman World, Cambridge University Press, page 26

Further reading