Being so valuable, soldiers in the Roman army were sometimes paid with salt instead of money. Their monthly allowance was called "salarium" ("sal" being the Latin word for salt). This Latin root can be recognized in the French word "salaire" — and it eventually made it into the English language as the word "salary."
- What is the etymology salarium?
- What is the origin of the word salt?
- What is the meaning of the Latin word Salarium?
What is the etymology salarium?
Salary comes from the Latin word salarium, which also means "salary" and has the root sal, or "salt." In ancient Rome, it specifically meant the amount of money allotted to a Roman soldier to buy salt, which was an expensive but essential commodity.
What is the origin of the word salt?
Etymology 1. From Middle English salt, from Old English sealt, from Proto-West Germanic *salt, from Proto-Germanic *saltą, from Proto-Indo-European *séh₂ls (“salt”).
What is the meaning of the Latin word Salarium?
a salary, stipend, allowance, pension; originally money given to soldiers with which to buy salt. a meal.