plaustrum
Uncertain; possibly from Latin plautus~plōtus (“flat, broad”), thus "flatwagon", or Latin plaudere~plōdere (“clap, clatter”), thus "clatterer", both from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- and containing *-trom (“tool-suffix”). V. Bertoldi considers it a substrate word of various forms, among which ploxenum (“wagon-box”). C.f also Latin plaumorātum (plauromātum?) (“a type of plough”) and Proto-Germanic *plōgaz (“plough”) of likewise uncertain etymology.
Pronunciation
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /ˈplau̯s.trum/, [ˈpɫ̪äu̯s̠t̪rʊ̃ˑ]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈplau̯s.trum/, [ˈpläu̯st̪rum]
Noun
plaustrum n (genitive plaustrī); second declension
- (vehicles) an open wagon or cart for hauling loads. [ synonyms ▲]
- the Big Dipper, Charles' Wain, the Plough.
Declension
Second-declension noun (neuter).
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | plaustrum | plaustra |
| Genitive | plaustrī | plaustrōrum |
| Dative | plaustrō | plaustrīs |
| Accusative | plaustrum | plaustra |
| Ablative | plaustrō | plaustrīs |
| Vocative | plaustrum | plaustra |