Reconstruction:Latin/mollica

This Latin entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Latin

Etymology

From mollis (“soft”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /molˈlika/, /molˈleka/

Noun

*mollīca f (Proto-Italo-Western-Romance)

1. crumb, breadcrumb

Declension

	singular	plural
nominative	*mollīca	*mollīcās
oblique	*mollīca	*mollīcās

Reconstruction notes

The reason for the /ˈe/ variant in Western Romance is unclear.

Descendants

• Italo-Romance:
  • Italian: mollica (possibly from Neapolitan)
  • Neapolitan: mollica, mullica
  • Sicilian: muḍḍica
• Western Romance:
  • Franco-Provençal: /muˈʎɛo/, /muˈlɛa/
  • Piedmontese: moleja, molìa, molea, molè, molèj

References

• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “*mŏllīca”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volumes 6/3: Mobilis–Myxa, page 49