LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

cicōnia

cicōnia f (genitive cicōniae)
Classical[kɪˈkoː.ni.a]Ecclesiastical[t͡ʃiˈkɔː.ni.a]

Meaning

  1. stork
  2. a derisive gesture made with the fingers
  3. a T-shaped instrument used to measure depth of furrows
  4. a transverse pole, mounted on a post, for drawing water

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecicōniacicōniae
genitivecicōniaecicōniārum
dativecicōniaecicōniīs
accusativecicōniamcicōniās
ablativecicōniācicōniīs
vocativecicōniacicōniae

cĭcōnĭa, ae, f.,
I. a stork, Plin. 10, 23, 32, § 63; Hor. S. 2, 2, 49; Ov. M. 6, 97; Juv. 14, 74 al.; at Praeneste called conia, Plaut. Truc. 3, 2, 23.—
II. Meton.
A. A derisory bending of the fingers in the form of a stork's bill, Pers. 1, 58; Hier. prol. in Sophon. Ep. 125, n. 18.—
B. An implement in the form of a T, used by rustics to measure the depth of furrows, Col. 3, 13, 11.—
C. A transverse pole, moving upon a perpendicular post, for drawing water, etc. (syn. tolleno), Isid. Orig. 20, 15, 3.

Origins

Disputed. Perhaps from Proto-Italic *kikōniā, from Proto-Indo-European *kekoh₂n- (“stork”), a reduplicated derivative of Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- (“to sing”), whence also Latin canō (“to sing”). Cognate to Proto-Germanic *hanô (“rooster, cock”), Proto-Germanic *hanjō (“hen”) (whence English hen), Proto-Slavic *kaňa (“accipitrid”) (whence Russian каню́к (kanjúk, “buzzard”), Bulgarian ка́ня (kánja, “kite”), Bulgarian каню́ша (kanjúša, “stork”) (dialectal)). De Vaan doubts the relation to canō, arguing that it is unlikely for the noise of a stork to be labeled as "singing" unless it is intended to be ironic. He suggests the initial reduplication is likely onomatopoeic in origin.

Elsewhere
  • Catalancigonya
  • Frenchceognefrom Old French ceoigne
  • Frenchçognefrom Old French ceoigne
  • Italiancicogna
  • Occitancigonha
  • Frenchcigognefrom Occitan cigonha
  • Portuguesecegonha
  • Spanishcigüeña
  • Asturiancigüeña
  • Emilianzigåggna
Sardinian
  • Campidanesecicònnia
  • Campidanesecicogna
  • Campidanesetzicònnia
  • Galluresecicona
  • Galluresecicogna
  • Logudoresecicònia
  • Logudoresecicogna
  • Logudoresetzicònnia
  • Nuoresetzicogna
  • Nuoreseciconna

In English words that came into English from cicōnia

  • ciconinecicōnia

Quick answers

What does cicōnia mean in Latin?
cicōnia, a noun, means “stork; a derisive gesture made with the fingers; a T-shaped instrument used to measure depth of furrows”.
What is the genitive of cicōnia?
The genitive singular is cicōniae. cicōnia is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce cicōnia?
In classical Latin, [kɪˈkoː.ni.a]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [t͡ʃiˈkɔː.ni.a].