entry
album
/ˈælbəm/A collection of photographs, writings, or recordings
From Latin alb (white).
from Latin album , which in classical times was a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices (the...
from Latin album , which in classical times was a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices (the...
from Latin album , which in classical times was a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices (the...
Word Ancestry
from Latin album , which in classical times was a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices (the...
from Latin album , which in classical times was a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices (the...
from Latin album , which in classical times was a board chalked or painted white, upon which public notices (the...
Before an album held photographs or music, it was something much more public: a white board in ancient Rome. Officials wrote laws, announcements, and lists of senators on this album in black, turning “white thing” into “official list.” Centuries later, German scholars revived the Latin word in album amicorum—literally a friend-book where visitors signed their names, rather like an academic guestbook with more powdered wigs. The same root appears in alb, the white priestly robe, and in albino, a word built around conspicuous whiteness. By 1951, record companies were putting several discs into large sleeves that resembled autograph books, and “album” made one more leap—from a blank white board to a whole evening of music.
The Story
Before an album held photographs or music, it was something much more public: a white board in ancient Rome. Officials wrote laws, announcements, and lists of senators on this album in black, turning “white thing” into “official list.” Centuries later, German scholars revived the Latin word in album amicorum—literally a friend-book where visitors signed their names, rather like an academic guestbook with more powdered wigs. The same root appears in alb, the white priestly robe, and in albino, a word built around conspicuous whiteness. By 1951, record companies were putting several discs into large sleeves that resembled autograph books, and “album” made one more leap—from a blank white board to a whole evening of music.
Modern Usage
According to Urban Dictionary entries, “album” is jokingly used for a person in a relationship rather than single, and for a delayed music release.
Notable References
- Dr. Dre’s album The Chronic popularized chronic as cannabis slang, though not album itself.
Kin & Kindred
From 'alb'·white; whiteness
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Etymonline
Free Dictionary
Urban Dictionary
Wikipedia
Wiktionary