incunabula

[ in-kyoo-nab-yuh-luh, ing- ]

plural noun

, singular in·cu·nab·u·lum [in-ky, oo, -, nab, -y, uh, -l, uh, m, ing-].

1. extant copies of books produced in the earliest stages (before 1501) of printing from movable type.
2. the earliest stages or first traces of anything.

incunabula

/ ˌɪnkjʊˈnæbjʊlə /

plural noun

1. any book printed before 1501
2. the infancy or earliest stages of something; beginnings

Derived Forms

• ˌincuˈnabular, adjective

Other Words From

• incu·nabu·lar adjective
• postin·cu·nabu·la adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incunabula¹

First recorded in 1815–25; from Latin: “straps holding a baby in a cradle, earliest home, birthplace,” probably equivalent to unattested *incūnā(re) “to place in a cradle” ( in- in- ² + unattested -cūnāre, verbal derivative of cūnae “cradle”) + -bula, plural of -bulum suffix of instrument; incunabula def 1 as translation of German Wiegendrucke

Word History and Origins

Origin of incunabula¹

C19: from Latin, originally: swaddling clothes, hence beginnings, from in- ² + cūnābula cradle