7 ms·
Yeah, a classic word formation pattern of using only a (visual) feature of an object to name and distinguish it. EtymOnline's explanation makes the connection e
by XaspR8d 7y ago
Yeah, a classic word formation pattern of using only a (visual) feature of an object to name and distinguish it. EtymOnline's explanation makes the connection even more direct:
> from Latin album, which in classical times was a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices (the Annales Maximi, edicts of the praetor, lists of senators, etc.) were inscribed in black, hence "a list of names." This Latin word was revived 16c. by German scholars, whose custom was to keep an album amicorum of colleagues' signatures; its meaning then expanded to "book with blank leaves meant to collect signatures and other souvenirs."
> Latin album is literally "white color, whiteness;" it is a noun use of the neuter of the adjective albus "white"
https://www.etymonline.com/word/album https://www.etymonline.com/word/album
- ljm 7y agoSo I suppose this would make one of The Beatles' seminal hits roughly translate to The Album Album?