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abdominal

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Etymology and origin of the French word abdominal

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1611 J. Duval More words from the 17th century
Ultimate origin
Latin abdōmen

Pronunciation

  • /ab.dɔ.mi.nal/[1]

Forms

abdominal (feminine abdominale, masculine plural abdominaux, feminine plural abdominales)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French abdomen + -al, a learned derivative built on the stem of Latin abdōmen (“belly”).[2][3][4][5] Wiktionary instead takes it from New Latin abdōminālis.[1] The noun abdomen itself was borrowed from Latin in 1537.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1611, in Duval, meaning “belonging to the abdomen”.[6][2]

Semantic evolution

The adjective has kept its anatomical sense.[7][3] In anatomy and gymnastics it is used as a masculine plural noun, les abdominaux, for the abdominal muscles,[4][8] and by extension for the exercises that strengthen them, familiarly shortened to abdos.[3] In Cuvier's classification les abdominaux was also an order of fishes, most of the freshwater ones.[8] The compound sous-abdominal appeared about 1965.[4]

Timeline

  • 1537 – Abdomen is borrowed from Latin.[5]
  • 1611 – First record of abdominal.[6][4]
  • 1845 – Bescherelle records abdominaux as an order of fishes.[8]
  • 1941 – Abdominaux is used in a newspaper for the abdominal muscles.[8]
  • c. 1965 – Sous-abdominal appears.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to the abdomen: muscles abdominaux, cavité abdominale.[3][6][7]

Noun

  1. (masculine plural) The abdominal muscles.[3][9]
  2. (masculine plural) Exercises that develop these muscles: faire des abdominaux;[3][9] (familiar) abdos.[3][9]
  3. (zoology, dated) In Cuvier's classification, an order of fishes.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Abdominal.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/abdominal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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