English
ocarina
Ocarina comes from Italian ocarina, from oca ‘goose’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwis ‘bird’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂éwis‘bird’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*awis‘bird’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEavis‘a bird’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*avicareconstructed
- Late Latinmodernauca
- Italianc. 1300–presentoca‘goose’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentocarina
- Englishtodayocarina
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂éwis‘bird’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*awis‘bird’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEavis‘a bird’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*avicareconstructed
- Late Latinmodernauca
- Italianc. 1300–presentoca‘goose’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentocarina
- Englishtodayocarina
The story
Borrowed from Italian ocarina (literally “little goose”), due to the musical instrument's resemblance to the animal.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- ‘to enjoy’
audience, ear, audit, acoustic, obey, avid, audible, anesthesia, ovation, aural, otolaryngology, avarice, 66 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwis ‘bird’
through Latin avis ‘a bird’
aviation, avian, auspicious, aviator, aviary, 7 more
through Italian oca ‘goose’
Today it means
noun A woodwind musical instrument that is closed at both sides to produce an enclosed space, and punctured with finger holes.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwis / ocarina