LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

blatta

blatta f (genitive blattae)
Classical[ˈbɫat.ta]Ecclesiastical[ˈblat.ta]

Meaning

  1. feminineany insect that shuns the light, e.g. cockroach, moth
  2. femininea clot of blood

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeblattablattae
genitiveblattaeblattārum
dativeblattaeblattīs
accusativeblattamblattās
ablativeblattāblattīs
vocativeblattablattae

blatta, ae, f.,
I. an insect that shuns the light; of several kinds, the cockroach, chafer, moth, etc., Plin. 29, 6, 39, § 139; 11, 28, 34, § 99: lucifuga, Verg. G. 4, 243 (per noctem vagans, Serv.); cf. Col. 9, 7, 5; Pall. 1, 37, 4; Hor. S. 2, 3, 119; Mart. 14, 37; cf. Voss, Verg. l. l.—On account of its mean appearance: amore cecidi tamquam blatta in pelvim, Laber. ap. Non. p. 543, 27.
blatta, ae, f.: blatta θρόμβος αἵματος,
I. a clot of blood, Gloss.—Hence,
II. (Access. form blattea, Ven. Carm. 2, 3, 19.) Purple (similar in color to flowing blood; cf. Salmas. Vop. Aur. 46, and Plin. 9, 38, 62, § 135; late Lat.): purpura, quae blatta, vel oxyblatta, vel hyacinthina dicitur, Cod. Th. 4, 40, 1: serica, ib. 10, 20, 18: blattam Tyrus defert, Sid. Carm. 5, 48; Lampr. Elag. 33; Cassiod. Var. Ep. 1, 2.

Origins

No clear etymology. Possibly related to Ancient Greek βλάπτω (bláptō, “to disable, hinder, harm”).

Descendants
  • Frenchblatte
  • Italianblatta
  • Portuguesebarata
  • Spanishbarata
  • Italianpiattolafrom Vulgar Latin *blattula
  • Sicilianbratta

Quick answers

What does blatta mean in Latin?
blatta, a noun, means “any insect that shuns the light, e.g. cockroach, moth; a clot of blood”.
What is the genitive of blatta?
The genitive singular is blattae. blatta is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce blatta?
In classical Latin, [ˈbɫat.ta]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈblat.ta].