plomo

Spanish

Chemical element
Pb
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Etymology

From Latin plumbum, either taken as an early semi-learned term (Latin pl- normally becomes ll- in inherited Spanish), or alternatively, possibly borrowed from medieval Catalan (see plom) or Aragonese, or even Mozarabic (as most of the lead in Spain came from Almería in Andalusia), although the latter seems unlikely as the Mozarabic result should be *plombo; it is also not impossible that a conservative pronunciation was maintained among the upper classes.[1] The Latin term is related to Ancient Greek μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead”), possibly from Etruscan. See also Portuguese chumbo, which was inherited and underwent the regular sound change, and prumo, which is semi-learned. Cognate with English plumb.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈplomo/ [ˈplo.mo]
Audio (file)
Rhymes: -omo
Syllabification: plo‧mo

Noun

plomo m (plural plomos)

lead (heavy, pliable, inelastic metal)
grey (colour between white and black)
plumb line
fuse
(informal) bore, drag (something boring or dull)

Derived terms

aplomar
caer a plomo
con pies de plomo
desplomar

Related terms

plomero
plomizo
plomoso
plúmbeo
aplomo

References

Joan Coromines; José A. Pascual (1983–1991) Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico (in Spanish), Madrid: Gredos