gaius

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Latin[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Probably of imitative origin, or related to the personal name Gaius.[1] Though only attested in Late Latin, it has been suggested that the name of the bird is archaic and predates the personal name.[2]

Noun[edit]

gaius m (genitive gaiī); second declension (Late Latin)

  1. jaybird

Declension[edit]

Second-declension noun.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative gaius gaiī
Genitive gaiī gaiōrum
Dative gaiō gaiīs
Accusative gaium gaiōs
Ablative gaiō gaiīs
Vocative gaie gaiī

Descendants[edit]

  • Italo-Romance:
    • Sicilian: gaju
  • Gallo-Italic:
  • Gallo-Romance:
    • Catalan: gaig, gai
    • Old French: jai (see there for further descendants)
    • Occitan: gag, gai

References[edit]

  1. ^ Myers, Susan (2022) The Bird Name Book: A History of English Bird Names, Princeton University Press, →ISBN, page 181
  2. ^ Palmer, Robert E. A. (1970) The Archaic Community of the Romans, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 145, note 1