ciorchine
Romanian[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Unknown. There are several etymologies proposed, and no single one can be said to be far ahead of the others in terms of getting majority preference yet.[1] Pușcariu and Densușianu proposed a derivation from a Vulgar Latin root *circ[u]lina, from Latin circulus, with an Italian dialectal word as the main evidence, a word which referred to "inflorescence of walnut trees and oak trees" and which derives from Latin circellus.
Another etymology [2] derives it from Romanian cioc, citing the Italian word ciocca (“bunch of grapes; bunch of leaves; tuft/bunch/lock of hair”). Italian ciocca is of unclear origin; an Italian etymological dictionary derives it from a Slavic word which could be cognate to Romanian ciuc, hence the similar meanings of ciocca and Romanian ciuc ("tuft of hair", etc.). A more recent etymology derives ciorchine from ciochină, an old Romanian word for the back part of a horse saddle which was essentially an eminence to which packs and items were attached, often in a bunch, and ciochină itself may derive from cioc/ciuc. There are additional etymologies as well.
Noun[edit]
ciorchine m (plural ciorchini)
- inflorescence (cluster of flowers arranged on a stem)
- a cluster (fruits arranged in the manner of an inflorescence)
- bunch of grapes
- fir cone
- (figuratively) a cluster, a bunch (of people, etc.)
Declension[edit]
| singular | plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | |
| nominative/accusative | (un) ciorchine | ciorchinele | (niște) ciorchini | ciorchinii |
| genitive/dative | (unui) ciorchine | ciorchinelui | (unor) ciorchini | ciorchinilor |
| vocative | ciorchine | ciorchinilor | ||
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Victor Celac, « O etimologie complicată: ciorchine » (A difficult etymology: ciorchine „bunch”), in „Philologica Jassyensia”, an XII, nr. 1 (23), 2016, p. 15–32. Available in its entirety online at Academia.edu (in Romanian, but page 32 has a synopsis in English, summarizing the new etymology).
- ^ Dicționarul etimologic român, by Alexandru Ciorănescu. Editură: Universidad de la Laguna, Tenerife, 1958-1966. His entry for ciorchine is available at DEX Online. He derives ciorchine from cioc and cites the Italian word ciocca as one of the evidences.
- ciorchine in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language)