cummari

Sicilian

FWOTD – 20 September 2016

Etymology

From Late Latin commater, commatrem, from Latin cum + mater The godmother of one's child becomes like the spiritual mother of her godchild because it is supposed that bonds of familiarity and affection exist between cummari.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [kʊmˈma.rɪ], /kʊmˈma.rɪ/

Noun

cummari f (plural cummari)

  1. female baptismal sponsor of one's child, cummer, godmother
    • "Aciḍḍuzzu di me cummari", traditional song (as given in 2012, Nicolò La Perna, Rosa Balistreri - Rusidda... a licatisi, p. 292):
      Aciḍḍuzzu di me cummari / senza pinni e senza ali / si pusau supra a scagghiola / a testa di intra e l’ali di fora.
      Little bird of my godmother / Without feathers and without wings / Alighted on the canary-grass / Head inside and wings outside.
  2. female witness at one's wedding; maid of honor
  3. close female friend (often between women)

Coordinate terms

See also

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