ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2476 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2476 ************************************ 7 Mar 2002 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked if we could suggest a descriptive byname meaning "feral, wild" that is appropriate for a 13th or 14th century Spanish woman. Here is what we have found. We found a number of possibilities that might appeal to you. The best choice we can offer is , which meant "wild, irascible, brusque, pugnacious" in 13th-14th century Spanish. We found 13th century examples and , as well as several examples of the masculine form [1, 2]. A milder term was used for 1147. This byname, a form of the word , meant "uninhibited, lively, boisterous, cheeky" [2]. A name like would be a fine choice. Another possibility is , the feminine of the byname recorded in the name 1228. His byname may have been a form of "fierce, wild"; but another scholar thinks it is a form of a word that meant "iron". Given the uncertainty, we can't recommend this as the best choice [1, 2]. The Spanish translation of "wild, as an animal" or "wild animal" is [3]. We haven't found an example of this word used as a person's byname, but we have found the word used in Spanish texts from before the 15th century and from the 16th century [4, 5]. So it is at least plausible that a 14th century woman might have been called . We also found many examples of the names of animals used as bynames. Of these, we thought you might be interested in "(female) cat" and "(female) wolf" [6]. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Adelaide de Beaumont, Leonor Martin, Juliana de Luna, Talan Gwynek, and Aryanhwy merch Catmael. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 7 Mar 2002 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Diez Melcon, R. P. Gonzalo, _Apellidos Castellano-Leoneses: Siglos IX-XIII, ambos inclusive_ (Universidad de Granada, 1957), pp.271-2. [2] Kremer, Dieter. 'Bemerkungen zu den mittelalterlichen hispanischen cognomina', in _Aufsa"tze zur Portugiesischen Kulturgeschichte_, vols. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17. Sonderdruck aus Portugiesische Forschungen der Go"rresgesellschaft. Herausgegeben von Hans Flasche (Mu"nster: Aschendorffsche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1970-1981/82), IV:185-191. [3] Blasco, Joaquin, Fernando Le/on Solis and Hugo O'Donnell, eds. _Harrap's Concise Spanish and English Dictionary_ (Harrap Books Ltd., Edinburgh, 1992), s.v. fiero. is glossed "wild animal". [4] "Libro de los gatos", Ed. de Delia Co/cera Marti/nez, at Literatura Medieval y del Renacimient. (WWW: Parnaseo & University of Valencia, visited Feb 2002), enxemplo XV, http://parnaseo.uv.es/Lemir/Textos/Gatos/gatos.html. It includes the phrase "the wild beasts". [5] "Libro de cetrerķa de Luis de Zapata" in Biblioteca de Cetreri/a Espan~ola (WWW: Jose/ M. Fradejas Rueda, 1999-2001). Examples in this 1583 source include "a brave and fierce bird"; "to a wild sea-beast". [6] Diez Melcon, pp.273-275.