[cayugabirds-l] Prothonotary etymology

[Chris Pelkie]

In case, like me, you were wondering where that odd word comes from... http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/protonotary prothonotary warbler Syllabification: (pro·thon·o·tar·y war·bler) Definition of prothonotary warbler noun a North American warbler, the male of which has a golden-yellow head, breast, and underparts. Protonotaria citrea, subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae Origin: late 18th century: named with reference to the saffron color of the robes worn by clerks to the pope (see Protonotary Apostolic) protonotary Syllabification: (pro·ton·o·tar·y) Pronunciation: /prōˈtänəˌterē, ˌprōtəˈnōtərē/ (also prothonotary) Definition of protonotary noun (plural protonotaries) chiefly historical a chief clerk in some courts of law, originally in the Byzantine court. Origin: late Middle English: via medieval Latin from late Greek prōtonotarios, from prōtos 'first' + notarios 'notary' http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=prothonotary&allowed_in_frame=0 prothonotary (n.)  also protonotary, mid-15c., "principal clerk of a court," from Late Latin prothonotarius, from Greek protonotarios "first scribe," originally the recorder of the court of the Byzantine empire, from protos "first" (see proto-) + Latin notarius (see notary). The -h- appeared in Medieval Latin __________________ Chris Pelkie Research Analyst Bioacoustics Research Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! --