Hi there!

Paul, you are right. The origin is definitely latin and there is examples of
words in Spanish and- I guess- other modern Latin languages that come from
that one as well. The Spanish word "giba" means "hump", so a man with a
"giba" is a hunchback!!

Also, although it is not in common use, someone or something who is "giboso"
has humps (do I have to point out the similarity with another word we are
familiar with .... "gibbosus"?).

By the way, the latin term "gibbosa" is the femenine form of "gibbosus" ...
so it's about the same idea.

Hope this helps

Miguel Carrillo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Monfils, Paul" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 7:13 PM
Subject: Re: Define the term "gibbous"


> Actually the adjective comes from the noun "gibbus", which means a hump.
> Therefore, "humped" could also be a meaning.  In Pecten gibbosum it refers
> to the  "inflated" or "convex" shape, but in Strombus gibbosus it means
> "having a hump".
>
> Paul M.
>