caeliscalpium

Calque of English skyscraper, from caelum (“sky”) +‎ scalpō (“to scratch”) +‎ -ium.

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [kae̯.lɪsˈkaɫ.pi.ũː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃe.lisˈkal.pi.um]

caeliscalpium n (genitive caeliscalpiī); second declension

1. (Contemporary Latin) skyscraper
   • 2002, Latinitas, volume 50, page 34:

     Audivimus nuper in Britannia duo caeliscalpia dirui decretum esse, non quod deformi metallorum et vitri pondere veterem loci maiestatem turparent (notum est Britannos parum de architectura intellegere), sed quia tantae molis tutela et conservatio nimis magno civitati constabat.

     We've heard that recently in Great Britain, they decided to demolish two skyscrapers, not because they spoiled the area's former majesty with an unattractive amount of metal and glass (Britons are notoriously ignorant about architecture), but because the care and conservation of such a massive structure cost too much to the city.

Second-declension noun (neuter).