LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

mappa

mappa f (genitive mappae)
Classical[ˈmap.pa]Ecclesiastical[ˈmap.pa]

Meaning

  1. femininenapkin
  2. femininestarting signal
  3. New Latinfemininemap

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativemappamappae
genitivemappaemappārum
dativemappaemappīs
accusativemappammappās
ablativemappāmappīs
vocativemappamappae

mappa, ae, f. Punic, Quint. 1, 5, 57,
I. a napkin, table-napkin; a towel.
I. Lit.: Varius mappa compescere risum Vix poterat, Hor. S. 2, 8, 63: laticlavia, Petr. 32; Mart. 4, 46, 17: rubra detergere vulnera mappa, Juv. 5, 27.—
II. Transf., a cloth with which the signal for starting was given to racers in the circus, a signalcloth: mappam usitatum Circo nomen, Poeni sibi vindicant, Quint. 1, 5, 57: mappa cretata, Mart. 12, 29, 9: Megalesiacae spectacula mappae, Juv. 11, 191: aliquo liberto mittente mappam, unde magistratus solent, Suet. Ner. 22.

Origins

Said by the Roman author Quintilian to be of Punic origin, perhaps from Phoenician 𐤌𐤀𐤐 (mʾp /⁠mappē⁠/), from Proto-Semitic *manpay, *manpiy- (“fine cloth, sieve”). Compare Israeli Hebrew מַפָּה (mappā́, “a map; a cloth”).

Descendants
  • Catalanmapa
  • Englishmap
  • GermanMappe
  • Romanianmapăfrom German Mappe
  • Italianmappa
  • Frenchmappemondefrom Old French mapamonde
  • Frenchmapperfrom Old French mapamonde
  • Englishnapefrom Old French nappe
  • Englishnapkinfrom Old French nappe
  • Englishnappyfrom Old French nappe

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesMappaMappa (χειρόμακτρον, ἐκμαγεῖον) a linen napkin. Among Greeks and Romans alike, before the meal began and after it was over, means were provided for wa…

Quick answers

What does mappa mean in Latin?
mappa, a noun, means “napkin; starting signal; map”.
What is the genitive of mappa?
The genitive singular is mappae. mappa is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce mappa?
In classical Latin, [ˈmap.pa]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈmap.pa].