[ˈweː.ɫũː], [ˈvɛː.lum]
OrigoFrom Proto-Italic *wekslom (note the Latin term's diminutive form vēxillum (as in pālus > pāxillus), which lends credence to this reconstruction), with two competing theories:
* From Proto-Indo-European *wegslom, from *weg- (“to weave, bind”). Cognate with English wick, Welsh gweu (“to weave”).
* Others refer it to *weǵʰ- (“to ride”), thus "that which propels"; in this case, cognate with Proto-Slavic *veslo (“oar”). This is semantically less attractive than the above theory.
- declension-2a cloth, covering, curtain, veil, awning
“Sed sī cancellī sint vel vēla, lēgārī poterunt, nōn tamen fistulae vel castellī.” — But while bar-doors or their veils can be legated, not so water-pipes or water-basins.
- declension-2, plural-normallythe sail of a ship
“Ausoniōs fīnēs cūr mea vēla volunt?” — Why do my sails incline toward Italian shores?
(Ausonia: Ancient Greek name for lower Italy.)
“velum adversa ferit” — strikes the sail head-on.
- declension-2the soft palate
Formaevēlum(canonical, neuter) · vēlī(genitive) · vēlum(nominative, singular) · vēla(nominative, plural) · vēlī(genitive, singular) · vēlōrum(genitive, plural) · vēlō(dative, singular) · vēlīs(dative, plural) · vēlum(accusative, singular) · vēla(accusative, plural) · vēlō(ablative, singular) · vēlīs(ablative, plural) · vēlum(singular, vocative) · vēla(plural, vocative)
Fons: Vicitionarium