LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

limbus

limbus m (genitive limbī)
Classical[ˈlɪm.bʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈlim.bus]

Meaning

  1. masculineA border, edge
  2. masculinehem, fringe, tassel
  3. EcclesiasticalLatinmasculinelimbo

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativelimbuslimbī
genitivelimbīlimbōrum
dativelimbōlimbīs
accusativelimbumlimbōs
ablativelimbōlimbīs
vocativelimbelimbī

limbus, i, m.,
I. a border that surrounds any thing, a hem, welt, edge, selvage, fringe; a belt, band, girdle.
I. Lit.: Sidoniam picto chlamydem circumdata limbo, Verg. A. 4, 137; id. ib. 2, 616 (this the better read., others nimbo): indutus chlamydem Tyriam, quam limbus obibat Aureus, Ov. M. 5, 51; id. ib. 6, 127; 2, 734; Stat. Achill. 1, 330: frontem limbo velata pudicam, with a headband, fillet, Claud. Cons. Mall. Theod. 118; cf.: imminuerent frontes limbis, Arn. 2, 72: picto discingit pectora limbo, with a girdle, belt, Stat. Th. 6, 367.—
II. Transf. *
A. The zodiac: extra limbum XII. signorum, Varr. R. R. 2, 3, 7; id. ap. Prob. ad Verg. E. 6, 31.—
B. A noose, snare, for catching animals, Grat. Cyn. 25.

Origins

Uncertain. Possibly: * from Proto-Indo-European *lemb- (“to hang loosely, hang limply”), the same tentative root as Sanskrit लम्बते (lambate, “hangs down”) and English limp, a nasal-infixed form of *leb-; * or from Proto-Indo-European *len-, whence Lithuanian linta (“ribbon”) and Old Norse linnr (“whether”).

Elsewhere
  • Catalanlimbe
  • Catalanllimbs
  • Englishlimbo
  • Englishlimbus
  • Englishlimbic
  • Frenchlimbe
  • Frenchlimbique
  • GermanLimbus
  • Italianlimbo
  • Italianlimbico
Italo-Romance
  • Italianlembo

In English words that came into English from limbus

  • limbolimbō
  • limblimbus
  • limbiclimbus
  • limbatelimbātus
  • limbuslimbus

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesLimbusLimbus (παρυφή), the border of a tunic or a scarf, chiefly in the woman's dress (Verg. A. 4.137; Serv. ad loc. 7). This ornament, when displayed upon …

Quick answers

What does limbus mean in Latin?
limbus, a noun, means “A border, edge; hem, fringe, tassel; limbo”.
What is the genitive of limbus?
The genitive singular is limbī. limbus is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce limbus?
In classical Latin, [ˈlɪm.bʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈlim.bus].
Which English words come from limbus?
English words that go back to Latin limbus include limb, limbic, limbus, limbo and limbate.