Agency Dictionary
puls
nounPronunciation: /pʊls/
In Portuguese: puls
History & CivilizationsWhat does “puls” mean?
A traditional thick Roman porridge made from boiled emmer wheat or spelt that formed the staple dietary sustenance of the populace.
Etymology
From Latin puls (a porridge made from cooked grain), which is related to or derived from Ancient Greek póltos (porridge). The Greek form may trace to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning flour or fine dust, though the ultimate origin is uncertain.
Usage note
Puls was the staple food of early Rome before bread became common. It was made from emmer wheat or spelt, and the comic playwright Plautus jokes about the Romans as porridge-eaters.
Word family
- pulse
- poultice
Usage examples
Wheat eaten as porridge (puls) or bread made up most of a Roman’s daily calories.
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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