gutta
UK[ˈɡʌtə]US[ˈɡʌtə]
n
a drop of fluid, especially one used as a dose in homeopathic medicine.
n
(architecture) a small, drop-like ornament, typically found on the underside of a mutule or triglyph in a Doric entablature.
Etymology
the english word 'gutta' is a direct borrowing from latin, where 'gutta' literally means "a drop of liquid". this latin term is believed to have originated from a proto-indo-european root, reconstructed as ǵʰewd-, meaning "to pour". the semantic journey is straightforward, moving from the general concept of pouring to the specific result: a drop. in english, 'gutta' retains its specialized, technical meanings, primarily in medicine and classical architecture, where it precisely denotes a small, drop-like form or unit, preserving the core logic of its latin ancestor.
Analysis
the word 'gutta' is a simplex loanword from latin, where it means "a drop". it functions as a whole unit in english.
Examples
the homeopathic remedy was administered in a single gutta.
the architect carefully restored the guttae beneath the cornice.
in the old pharmacy, you could find bottles labeled "guttae" for various ailments.