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Q&A What semantic notions underlie fūrunculus (Latin for 'petty thief') 🡺 furuncle?

Wiktionary doesn't expound how furuncle ("1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule") is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)". How do these notions in these nouns relate to each oth...

1 answer  ·  posted 2y ago by PSTH‭  ·  edited 2y ago by PSTH‭

Question etymology Latin
#4: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2023-02-20T22:08:11Z (almost 2 years ago)
  • [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furuncle) doesn't expound how furuncle (["1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbDFWSEmes)) is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)". I see no relationship between these two notions. Why would furuncles markedly develop on thieves?
  • [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furuncle#etymonline_v_33465)
  • > "a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus, "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see [furtive](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furtive?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of furtive ")). Related: Furuncular; furunculous.
  • and [_OED_](www.oed.com/view/Entry/75735)
  • > **Etymology:** < Latin _fÅ«runculus_, originally ‘little thief’, diminutive of _fÅ«r_ . Compare French _furoncle_ [froncle n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/74888#eid3468618)
  • don't expound the etymology.
  • <summary>Images</summary>
  • <details>
  • ![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/94/ed/a3/94eda3519a088c6421989734e6770e98.jpg)
  • ![](https://www.informedhealth.org/grafiken/furunkel_enjpg_replacement_image.jpg)
  • Sources for [top](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852687712354/) and [bottom](https://www.informedhealth.org/boils-and-carbuncles.html).
  • </details>
  • [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furuncle) doesn't expound how furuncle (["1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbDFWSEmes)) is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)". How do these notions in these nouns relate to each other at all? E.g. why would furuncles markedly develop on thieves?
  • [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furuncle#etymonline_v_33465)
  • > "a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus, "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see [furtive](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furtive?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of furtive ")). Related: Furuncular; furunculous.
  • and [_OED_](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/75735)
  • > **Etymology:** < Latin _fÅ«runculus_, originally ‘little thief’, diminutive of _fÅ«r_ . Compare French _furoncle_ [froncle n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/74888#eid3468618)
  • don't expound the etymology. Moderator tucked my images below.
  • <details>
  • ![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/94/ed/a3/94eda3519a088c6421989734e6770e98.jpg)
  • ![](https://www.informedhealth.org/grafiken/furunkel_enjpg_replacement_image.jpg)
  • Sources for [top](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852687712354/) and [bottom](https://www.informedhealth.org/boils-and-carbuncles.html).
  • </details>
#3: Post edited by user avatar Monica Cellio‭ · 2023-01-11T23:49:27Z (almost 2 years ago)
I don't think we need to see that by default.
  • [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furuncle) doesn't expound how furuncle (["1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbDFWSEmes)) is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)". I see no relationship between these two notions. Why would furuncles markedly develop on thieves?
  • [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furuncle#etymonline_v_33465)
  • > "a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus, "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see [furtive](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furtive?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of furtive ")). Related: Furuncular; furunculous.
  • and [_OED_](www.oed.com/view/Entry/75735)
  • > **Etymology:** < Latin _fÅ«runculus_, originally ‘little thief’, diminutive of _fÅ«r_ . Compare French _furoncle_ [froncle n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/74888#eid3468618)
  • don't expound the etymology.
  • ![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/94/ed/a3/94eda3519a088c6421989734e6770e98.jpg)
  • ![](https://www.informedhealth.org/grafiken/furunkel_enjpg_replacement_image.jpg)
  • Sources for [top](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852687712354/) and [bottom](https://www.informedhealth.org/boils-and-carbuncles.html).
  • [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furuncle) doesn't expound how furuncle (["1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbDFWSEmes)) is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)". I see no relationship between these two notions. Why would furuncles markedly develop on thieves?
  • [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furuncle#etymonline_v_33465)
  • > "a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus, "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see [furtive](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furtive?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of furtive ")). Related: Furuncular; furunculous.
  • and [_OED_](www.oed.com/view/Entry/75735)
  • > **Etymology:** < Latin _fÅ«runculus_, originally ‘little thief’, diminutive of _fÅ«r_ . Compare French _furoncle_ [froncle n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/74888#eid3468618)
  • don't expound the etymology.
  • <summary>Images</summary>
  • <details>
  • ![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/94/ed/a3/94eda3519a088c6421989734e6770e98.jpg)
  • ![](https://www.informedhealth.org/grafiken/furunkel_enjpg_replacement_image.jpg)
  • Sources for [top](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852687712354/) and [bottom](https://www.informedhealth.org/boils-and-carbuncles.html).
  • </details>
#2: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2023-01-11T04:30:08Z (almost 2 years ago)
  • [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furuncle) doesn't expound how furuncle is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)" to ["1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbDFWSEmes). I see no relationship between these two notions. Why would furuncles markedly develop on thieves?
  • [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furuncle#etymonline_v_33465)
  • > "a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus, "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see [furtive](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furtive?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of furtive ")). Related: Furuncular; furunculous.
  • and [_OED_](www.oed.com/view/Entry/75735)
  • > **Etymology:** < Latin _fÅ«runculus_, originally ‘little thief’, diminutive of _fÅ«r_ . Compare French _furoncle_ [froncle n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/74888#eid3468618)
  • don't expound the etymology.
  • ![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/94/ed/a3/94eda3519a088c6421989734e6770e98.jpg)
  • ![](https://www.informedhealth.org/grafiken/furunkel_enjpg_replacement_image.jpg)
  • Sources for [top](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852687712354/) and [bottom](https://www.informedhealth.org/boils-and-carbuncles.html).
  • [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furuncle) doesn't expound how furuncle (["1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbDFWSEmes)) is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)". I see no relationship between these two notions. Why would furuncles markedly develop on thieves?
  • [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furuncle#etymonline_v_33465)
  • > "a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus, "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see [furtive](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furtive?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of furtive ")). Related: Furuncular; furunculous.
  • and [_OED_](www.oed.com/view/Entry/75735)
  • > **Etymology:** < Latin _fÅ«runculus_, originally ‘little thief’, diminutive of _fÅ«r_ . Compare French _furoncle_ [froncle n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/74888#eid3468618)
  • don't expound the etymology.
  • ![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/94/ed/a3/94eda3519a088c6421989734e6770e98.jpg)
  • ![](https://www.informedhealth.org/grafiken/furunkel_enjpg_replacement_image.jpg)
  • Sources for [top](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852687712354/) and [bottom](https://www.informedhealth.org/boils-and-carbuncles.html).
#1: Initial revision by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2023-01-11T04:29:16Z (almost 2 years ago) 
What semantic notions underlie fūrunculus (Latin for 'petty thief') 🡺  furuncle?
[Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/furuncle) doesn't expound how furuncle is a "transferred sense" from "pilferer (petty thief)" to ["1 cm tender red papule or fluctuant nodule"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbDFWSEmes). I see no relationship between these two notions. Why  would furuncles markedly develop on thieves?

[Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furuncle#etymonline_v_33465)
> "a boil, circumscribed inflammation on the skin," 1670s, from Latin furunculus, "a boil, burning sore," also "petty thief, pilferer," diminutive of fur "thief" (see [furtive](https://www.etymonline.com/word/furtive?ref=etymonline_crossreference "Etymology, meaning and definition of furtive ")). Related: Furuncular; furunculous.


and [_OED_](www.oed.com/view/Entry/75735)

> **Etymology:** < Latin _fūrunculus_, originally ‘little thief’, diminutive of _fūr_ . Compare French _furoncle_ [froncle n.](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/74888#eid3468618) 

don't expound the etymology.


![](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/94/ed/a3/94eda3519a088c6421989734e6770e98.jpg)

![](https://www.informedhealth.org/grafiken/furunkel_enjpg_replacement_image.jpg)


Sources for [top](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/571886852687712354/) and [bottom](https://www.informedhealth.org/boils-and-carbuncles.html).
etymology Latin