barba

Meaning

Concepts

Synonyms

Translations

Notes

Extra tools

(declension-1, feminine) beard (facial hair)
(declension-1, feminine, figuratively) wool, down on a plant

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈbar.ba]

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰers- Proto-Indo-European *bʰardʰéh₂ Proto-Italic *farβā Latin barba Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰardʰéh₂ (“beard”). Since PIE *bʰ normally became [f] at the start of a Latin word, the initial [b] calls for some explanation. It is generally attributed to long-distance regressive assimilation in voicing and/or manner of articulation (e.g. *farb- > barb-). More information Katz (1998 and 2006:335-337) identifies one other potential example of this sound change, berber (found only in the Carmen Arvale; interpreted by Katz as meaning "firm", cognate to firmus, from *dʰer-), and proposes the sound law *fVrb- > bVrb-, noting it has no apparent counterexamples. This sound law is also endorsed by Weiss 2018:439-440 (citing Katz 2006), with the same examples, although Weiss prefers to interpret berber as meaning 'at every door' and derive it from *dʰwer- (“door, gate”) via *dʰwer-dʰwer (citing Weiss 2017 and Ligorio 2012). On the other hand, De Vaan 2008, citing Driessen 2001, considers this rule ad hoc. For comparison, fiber from *bʰébʰrus (with the similar but not identical shape fVbr-) shows a lack of assimilation (Katz 2006:336). Previously, Weiss 2009 suggested the alternative of deriving the */b-/ via long-distance aspirate dissimilation ("limited Latin Grassmann's Law") turning *bʰardʰeh₂ into *bardʰeh₂. De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *farβā (perhaps from earlier *farðā) on the assumption that Italian farfecchie (“moustache”) is borrowed from a cognate word in another Italic language. If this reconstruction is correct, then the assimilation discussed above must have postdated the common Italic stage.