noun · neutersecond declension
herbitum
herbitum n (genitive herbitī)
Meaning
- neuterthe name of some kind of plant fed as fodder to flocks
Herbitum vocaverunt pastores eo quod vice herbae praebeatur pecoribus, ubi pascua desunt.
Shepherds named herbitum, because it is offered to flocks, in place of grasses, herbae, when pasturage is lacking.early 7th c. CE, Isidore of Seville, Etymologiae sive Origines 17.7.55.Herbitum, orfgebitt.
Herbitum, fodder [lit.: "livestock/cattle-biting"]early 11th century, Antwerp-London Glossaries 12. Omnia Nomina Tritici Sunt - neutera lawn, meadow
herbitum [or herbetum] locus in quo herbae sunt
Gloss.ᴸ II Abav.
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | herbitum | herbita |
| genitive | herbitī | herbitōrum |
| dative | herbitō | herbitīs |
| accusative | herbitum | herbita |
| ablative | herbitō | herbitīs |
| vocative | herbitum | herbita |
Origins
In sense 1, possibly an altered version of arbutus (“strawberry tree”) (compare Portuguese êrvedo), likely influenced by herba (“grass”), which Isidore cites in his explanation. Perhaps compare also Italian erbato and Spanish servato (“sulphurwort, hog fennel (Peucedanum officinale)”). The sense "lawn", given by Gaffiot and by Gustav Friedrich Hildebrand's Glossarium and possibly attested by a gloss, may represent a second lexeme, as it does not fit with Isidore's usage. A meaning "lawn" would make sense as a variant spelling of herbētum from herba (“grass”) + -ētum (suffix forming nouns of place from plant names) (compare Catalan herbei). Compare also herbitium and herbārium.