LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

capulus

capulus m (genitive capulī)

Meaning

  1. masculinesarcophagus
  2. masculinetomb
  3. masculinehandle, hilt (of a sword)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecapuluscapulī
genitivecapulīcapulōrum
dativecapulōcapulīs
accusativecapulumcapulōs
ablativecapulōcapulīs
vocativecapulecapulī

căpŭlus, i, m. (acc. to Gramm. also că-pŭlum, i, n., Paul. ex Fest. p. 61 Müll.; Non. p. 4, 21 sq.; Isid. Orig. 20, 16, 5) [capio; prop. the holder].
I. A sarcophagus, bier, sepulchre, tomb: capulum... vocatur et id, quo mortuo efferatur, Paul. l. l.: capulum dicitur quicquid aliquam rem intra se capit: nam sarcophagum, id est sepulchrum, capulum dici veteres volunt, quod corpora capiat... Novius... Prius in capulo quam in curuli sellā. Lucilius Satyrarum libro secundo, quem illi quom vidissent... in capulo hunc non esse, aliumque cubare. Var. Cosmotorque, Propter cunam capulum positum nutrix tradit pollictori, Non. p. 4, 21 sqq.; cf. Serv. ad Verg. A. 6, 222: (feretrum) Latine capulus dicitur, id. ib. 11, 64: dum funera portant, Dum capulo nondum manus excidit, Stat. Th. 3, 362: monumentum quoddam conspicamur. Ibi capulos carie et vetustate semitectos, quis inhabitabant pulverei et jam cinerosi mortui, App. M. 4, p. 150, 27: capuli lecti funerei vel rogi in modum arae constructi, Placid. Gloss. tom. III. p. 451.—Hence: ire ad capulum, to go to the grave, Lucr. 2, 1174; and sarcastically: capuli decus, one who deserves a bier = capularis, Plaut. As. 5, 2, 42.—
II. That by which any thing is seized or held, the handle: aratri, Ov. P. 1, 8, 57: sceptri, id. M. 7, 506.—Esp., the hilt of a sword, Cic. Fat. 3, 5; Verg. A. 2, 553; 10, 536; Ov. M. 7, 422; 12, 133; 12, 491; Petr. 82, 2; Tac. A. 2, 21; App. M. 1, p. 108 al.; cf.: capulum manubrium gladii vocatur, Paul. l. l. —Hence,
III. = membrum virile, Plaut. Cas. 5, 2, 29; with the addition of coleorum, Auct. Priap. 24, 7.—
IV. Capulum, a halter for catching or fastening cattle, a lasso, Isid. Orig. 20, 16, 5; cf. capulo.

Origins

From capiō + -ulus. Active interpretation of the suffix leads to the first, passive interpretation to the second meaning.

Descendants
  • Frenchcâblefrom Old French cable
  • Italiancappio
  • Portuguesecabo
  • Spanishcápulo
  • Middle Englishcablefrom Old French cable
  • Sicilianchiaccu

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesCapulusCapulus (κώπη, λαβή). 1. The hilt of a sword, which was frequently much ornamented. (Verg. A. 2.553; Ov. Met. 7.442, &c.) [GLADIUS] The handles of kni…

Quick answers

What does capulus mean in Latin?
capulus, a noun, means “sarcophagus; tomb; handle, hilt (of a sword)”.
What is the genitive of capulus?
The genitive singular is capulī. capulus is masculine, second declension.