LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

marculus

marculus m (genitive marculī)
Classical[ˈmar.kʊ.ɫʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈmar.ku.lus]

Meaning

  1. masculinesmall hammer, (Old Latin, post-Augustan) hammer

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativemarculusmarculī
genitivemarculīmarculōrum
dativemarculōmarculīs
accusativemarculummarculōs
ablativemarculōmarculīs
vocativemarculemarculī

marcŭlus or martŭlus, i, m. dim. marcus,
I. a small hammer, a hammer (ante-class. and post-Aug.): malleus vocatur, quia dum quid calet et molle est, caedit et producit: marcus, malleus major: et dictus marcus, quod major sit ad caedendum, et fortior: marcellus mediocris: marculus malleus pusillus, Isid. Orig. 19, 7, 2; Lucil. ib.: tegulas invenit Cinyra, et metalla aeris, item forcipem, martulum, vectem, incudem, Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 195: alii caelo et marculo gemmulas exsculpunt, Front. ad Caes. 4, 4, 3 Mai.: aerariorum marculi, Mart. 12, 57, 6.
Marcŭlus diminutivum a Marco, Paul. ex Fest. p. 125 Müll.

Origins

Disputed. The term may be ultimately connected with the root *melh₂- (“to grind”). * This term has been explained as a diminutive to a noun formed from earlier Proto-Indo-European *molH-ko-. According to this theory, Proto-Indo-European *molH-ko- gave rise to a diminutive noun *malakelo-, which then transformed into *malkelo-, before then changing into *markelo- via the dissimilation of l to r. Alternatively, the term may have begun as *malalo-kelo- and then evolved into *mallokelo- before developing into *malkelo-. * Another theory maintains that the term originated from Proto-Indo-European *molH-tlo-, before undergoing a development *moltlo- > *molklo- > *morklo- > marculus. This explanation is favored by De Vaan, though it is criticized by Prósper, who considers the o-grade "unjustified." Prósper further argues that the expected form outcome of this sequence would be *mulcrum. According to Prósper, the second l would be the expected target of dissimilation, such as in fulcrum. Moreover, Prósper suggests that the /o/ ought to be raised in this position, noting comparable forms such as pulsus and ultimus. * Prósper proposes a derivation from the root *merh₂-, whence also perhaps Proto-Celtic *marnati. According to Prósper, the term may have followed a development from Proto-Indo-European *mṛh₂-tlom > *marklo- > marculus. See also malleus (“hammer, mallet”), with which it is related. Due to the -ulus being misanalysed as the diminutive suffix -ulus, marcus was later fabricated by analogy.

Descendants
  • Spanishmacho
  • Galicianmacho

Quick answers

What does marculus mean in Latin?
marculus, a noun, means “small hammer, (Old Latin, post-Augustan) hammer”.
What is the genitive of marculus?
The genitive singular is marculī. marculus is masculine, second declension.
How do you pronounce marculus?
In classical Latin, [ˈmar.kʊ.ɫʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈmar.ku.lus].