LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

claustrum

claustrum n (genitive claustrī)
Classical[ˈkɫau̯s.trũː]Ecclesiastical[ˈklau̯s.trum]

Meaning

  1. neuterplural normallyrarea bar, band, bolt
  2. neutergate, door, bulwark
  3. neuterenclosure (confined space)
  4. neutercloister (especially in plural)
  5. Medieval Latinneuterportion of monastery closed off to laity
  6. New Latinneuterclaustrum (thin lamina of grey matter in each cerebral hemisphere of the human brain)

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Sera · Claustrum · Pessulus · Repagulum · Obex

Seræ and claustra are bolts; sera (seruisse, εἴρειν) a movable bolt, that is put on the door; claustrum, a bolt that is fastened to the door; whereas pessuli, repagula, and obices, are merely bars, which supply the place of bolts; pessulus (πάσσαλος) a smaller bar for the fores, Plaut. Aul. i. 2, 25. Ter. Heaut. ii. 3, 47; whereas repagulum (from πῆξαι), pangere, a greater bar for the valvæ, Cic. Verr. iv. 43. Plin. H. N. xvi. 42, and obex (from objicere) for the portæ, Tac. H. iii. 30. Ann. xiii. 39. (v. 292.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeclaustrumclaustra
genitiveclaustrīclaustrōrum
dativeclaustrōclaustrīs
accusativeclaustrumclaustra
ablativeclaustrōclaustrīs
vocativeclaustrumclaustra

claustrum, i, v. claustra
I. init.

Origins

From Proto-Italic *klaudtrom, from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂ud- (“key, hook, nail”) + *-trom (“instrumental suffix”). Equivalent to claud- (“to close, enclose”) + -trum. Related to Latin clāvis (“key”), clāvus (“nail, peg”), claustra (“dam, wall, barricade, stronghold”). Cognate with Ancient Greek κλείς (kleís, “bar, bolt, key”), Old High German slioȥan (“to close, conclude, lock”), Old Saxon slūtan (“to close, conclude, lock”).

Later
  • Catalanclaustre
  • Englishclaustrum
  • Italianclaustro
  • Occitanclaustra
  • Occitanclastra
  • Portugueseclaustro
  • Romanianclaustru
  • Spanishclaustro
  • Friulianclaustri
  • Galicianclaustro
Italo-Dalmatian
  • Italianchiostro
  • Italianchiostra
  • Venetanconostro
  • Venetangiostro
Early (mostly through the Vulgar form)
  • GermanKlosterfrom Old High German klōstar
  • Old Englishclauster
  • Old Englishclūstor
  • West Frisiankleasterfrom Old Frisian klāster
  • PlautdietschKloostafrom Old Saxon *klōstar
  • Estoniankloosterfrom Old Saxon *klōstar
  • Latvianklosterisfrom Old Saxon *klōstar
  • Dutchkloosterfrom Old Dutch *clōster
  • Limburgishkloeasterfrom Old Dutch *clōster
  • Alemannic GermanChloosterfrom Old High German klōstar
Rhaeto-Romance
  • Friulianclostri
  • Romanshcaluster
  • Romanshcaluoster
  • Romanshculuoster
Gallo-Italic
  • Old Lombardchiostre
Gallo-Romance
  • Franco-Provençalcllioutre
  • Old Frenchcloistre

Quick answers

What does claustrum mean in Latin?
claustrum, a noun, means “a bar, band, bolt; gate, door, bulwark; enclosure (confined space)”.
What is the genitive of claustrum?
The genitive singular is claustrī. claustrum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce claustrum?
In classical Latin, [ˈkɫau̯s.trũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈklau̯s.trum].