Etymologically
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accrocher

Etymology and origin of the French word accrocher

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1165, Chrétien de Troyes (acrocer)
Ultimate origin
Frankish (*krōk)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /a.kʁɔ.ʃe/[1]

Forms

accrocher[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French a- + croc + -er.[2][3][4][1][5] “Croc” “hook” comes from Frankish *krōk, matching Old Norse krókr.[6] Compare Franco-Provençal acrochiér and Italian accroccare.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Chrétien de Troyes's Guillaume d'Angleterre (about 1165) has acrocer, to catch on something hooked: the purse full of bezants a un rain del bos acroce “caught on a branch of the wood”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Froissart (14th century) uses it for grappling ships together for a fight, and Robert Estienne (1549) for holding up a lawsuit, a sense lost after the 17th century.[2][3] Hanging something on a hook is in Ronsard (16th century).[2][3] Boileau (1660) applies it to a carriage catching another's wheel, a use still common for vehicles.[2][3]

S'accrocher is to hold on with one's hands (1680), and figuratively to cling to a person or position (1684).[2][3] The familiar accro “hooked, addicted” is clipped from the participle.[3][1]

Timeline

  • c. 1165 – Acrocer, Chrétien de Troyes.[2]
  • 14th century – To grapple ships, Froissart.[2]
  • 1549 – To hold up a lawsuit, Robert Estienne.[2]
  • 16th century – To hang on a hook, Ronsard.[2]
  • 1660 – To catch another vehicle, Boileau.[2]
  • 1680 – S'accrocher, Richelet.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To hang (on a hook): accrocher un tableau au mur, accrocher son manteau.[7][1]
  2. To catch, snag: être accroché par un buisson; to hook (a boat).[7][8]
  3. To bump into, clip (a vehicle): le camion a accroché une voiture.[7][3]
  4. To catch (attention); to buttonhole (someone).[8][1]
  5. S'accrocher: to cling, hold on, (familiar) to stick at it, persevere.[2][9][1]
  6. Avoir le cœur bien accroché: to have a strong stomach.[7]

Word family

  • accroc
  • accrochage
  • accroche-cœur
  • accrocheur
  • accro
  • raccrocher
  • décrocher
  • croc
  • crochet

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 16, 402b
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
Cite this entry

“Accrocher.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/accrocher. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·