LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinethird declension

furfur

furfur m (genitive furfuris)
Classical[ˈfʊr.fʊr]Ecclesiastical[ˈfur.fur]

Meaning

  1. masculinebran, husks of grain, chaff
  2. masculinescaly infection of the skin

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativefurfurfurfurēs
genitivefurfurisfurfurum
dativefurfurīfurfuribus
accusativefurfuremfurfurēs
ablativefurfurefurfuribus
vocativefurfurfurfurēs

furfur, ŭris (abl. furfuri, Plaut. Capt. 4, 2, 27), and furfŭres, um, m.,
I. bran [reduplicated form, originally for-for; root ghar-; Sanscr. gharshāmi, rub; Gr. χρίω; cf.: far, farina, frio, frico, etc.; v. Corss. Beiträg. p. 206].
I. Lit.: qui alunt furfure sues, Plaut. Capt. 4, 2, 27: per cribrum effuso furfure, Plin. 22, 25, 70, § 145: triticum furfure crasso vestitur, id. 18, 30, 73, § 304.—In plur.: hordeacei, Varr. R. R. 2, 6, 4; Col. 12, 44, 3: triticei, Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 17: excreti modice a farina, Col. 8, 4, 1: furfuribus conspersus panis, Phaedr. 4, 18, 4.—
II. Transf., scurf or scales on the skin, the head, etc.: foedo cutis furfure, Plin. 26, 1, 2, § 2.—In plur.: capitis, Plin. 20, 9, 39, § 101: in facie, id. 22, 21, 30, § 64. —In a pun upon the two meanings: ex ipsis dominis meis pugnis exculcabo furfures, Plaut. Capt. 4, 2, 30.

Origins

Unknown. Traditionally explained as from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer- (“to rub, grind”), however as De Vaan notes the vowel /u/ would be unexplained; a preform *gʰur- ~ *ǵʰur- would be expected instead, but no such root exists. Compare Ancient Greek κέγχρος (kénkhros) and κάχρυς (kákhrus), which also relate to grains. Alternatively, cognate with Sanskrit बुस (busa, “chaff, refuse grain; rubbish”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰus-. In either of these cases, from a reduplicated root. Given the word's unusual form in the absence of a solid Indo-European explanation, borrowing from some unknown, perhaps substrate, source is likely.

Descendants
  • Italianforfora
  • Italianforforo
  • Sardinianfrùffere
  • Sardinianfùffere
  • Sardinianfùrfaru
  • Catalanfúrfur
  • Englishfurfur
  • Englishfurfuraceous
  • Frenchfurfures
  • Old Frenchfourfre

In English words that came into English from furfur

  • furfuralfurfur
  • furfuraceousfurfur
  • furfurfurfur
  • furfurationfurfur

Quick answers

What does furfur mean in Latin?
furfur, a noun, means “bran, husks of grain, chaff; scaly infection of the skin”.
What is the genitive of furfur?
The genitive singular is furfuris. furfur is masculine, third declension.
How do you pronounce furfur?
In classical Latin, [ˈfʊr.fʊr]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈfur.fur].
Which English words come from furfur?
English words that go back to Latin furfur include furfural, furfuraceous, furfur and furfuration.