LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

ferula

ferula f (genitive ferulae)
Classical[ˈfɛ.rʊ.ɫa]Ecclesiastical[ˈfɛː.ru.la]

Meaning

  1. femininegiant fennel (Ferula communis)
  2. femininea staff, stick, rod
  3. femininea splint
  4. femininethe unramified horn of a young stag

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Fustis · Ferula · Sudes · Trudes · Rudis · Scipio · Baculus

1. Fustis and ferula denote sticks for striking; sudes, trudes, and rudis, for thrusting; scipio and baculus, for walking. 2. Fustus (πτορθός?) is a cudgel or club, large enough to strike a man dead; but ferula, a little stick, or rod for the chastisement of school-boys; sudes (ὄζος) and trudes (στορθή, the root of Trüssel, a weapon called the Morning-star) [a sort of truncheon with a spiked head], are used in battle; rudis (ὀρσός) only as a foil in the fencing-school; scipio (σκηπίων, σκῆψαι), serves especially for ornament and state, as a symbol of superior power, or of the honor due to age; baculus, bacillum (βάκτρον), serve more for use and convenience to lean upon, and at the same time, when necessary, as a weapon. (iii. 265.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeferulaferulae
genitiveferulaeferulārum
dativeferulaeferulīs
accusativeferulamferulās
ablativeferulāferulīs
vocativeferulaferulae

fĕrŭla, ae, f.,
I. the plant fennel-giant, Ferula, Linn., in the pith of which Prometheus is feigned to have preserved the fire which he stole from heaven.
I. Lit., Plin. 13, 22, 42, § 122; 7, 56, 57, § 198; Hyg. Fab. 144; Serv. Verg. E. 6, 42.—
II. Transf.
A. The thin or slender branch of a tree, Plin. 17, 21, 35, § 152.—
B. A staff, walkingstick (for syn. cf.: baculum, bacillum, scipio, fustis; virga), Plin. 13, 22, 42, § 123.—
C. A whip, rod, to punish slaves or schoolboys, Hor. S. 1, 3, 120; Juv. 6, 479; Mart. 14, 80; 10, 62, 10; Juv. 1, 15; Mart. Cap. 3, § 224; for driving draught cattle, Ov. M. 4, 26; cf. id. A. A. 1, 546.—
D. As an attribute of Silvanus, Verg. E. 10, 25.—
E. A splint for broken bones, Cels. 8, 10, 1.—
F. The young stag's horn, Plin. 8, 32, 50, § 117.

Origins

Uncertain but perhaps connected to festūca (“stalk, straw”).

Elsewhere
  • Catalanfèrula
  • Englishferula
  • Frenchférule
  • Englishferulefrom French férule
  • Italianferula
  • Occitanferula
  • Portugueseférula
  • Spanishférula
  • Middle High Germanferla
  • TranslingualFerula
Insular Romance
  • Sardinianfeurra
  • Sardinianfiuredda
  • Sardinianfeuredda
  • Sardinianferuledda
  • Sardinianeruledda
  • Sardinianfraudda
Italo-Romance
  • Italianferla
  • Italianferola
  • Italianferolaggine
  • Neapolitanferula
  • Neapolitanfergola
  • Neapolitanfregola
  • Neapolitanferlizza
  • Neapolitancannaferla
  • Sicilianferra
  • Sicilianfella
Gallo-Romance
  • Catalanferla
  • Catalancanyaferla
  • Old Occitanferla
Gallo-Italic
  • Lombardferla
  • Piedmonteseferla
  • Romagnolferla
Ibero-Romance
  • Aragonesecañaferra

Quick answers

What does ferula mean in Latin?
ferula, a noun, means “giant fennel (Ferula communis); a staff, stick, rod; a splint”.
What is the genitive of ferula?
The genitive singular is ferulae. ferula is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce ferula?
In classical Latin, [ˈfɛ.rʊ.ɫa]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈfɛː.ru.la].