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alcalin

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Etymology and origin of the French word alcalin

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1691 Chastelain More words from the 17th century
Ultimate origin
Arabic قلي
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French alcali
French alcalin
From the same root
French alcaloïde ← alcali

Pronunciation

  • /al.ka.lɛ̃/[1]

Forms

alcalin (feminine alcaline, masculine plural alcalins, feminine plural alcalines)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French alcali + -in.[2][1][3][4] The noun itself is from Arabic قلي (qaly, “soda (the plant)”), taken through Medieval Latin alkali.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in chemistry in 1691, in Chastelain; in 1700 Homberg speaks of une matière alcaline, a substance having the properties of alkalis.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The adjective first described substances with the properties of alkalis, as opposed to acids, and then the metals whose oxides give alkalis.[2][6][5] It was used as a noun in pharmacy from 1884, for an alkaline medicine, in a text of Zola.[2][6] The derivatives alcalinité (1823, Boiste) and alcaliniser (1877) followed.[2][6]

Timeline

  • 1691 – First recorded, in chemistry, in Chastelain.[2][5]
  • 1700 – Homberg uses it of a substance with the properties of alkalis.[2]
  • 1823 – Alcalinité is recorded by Boiste.[2]
  • 1877 – Alcaliniser is recorded.[6]
  • 1884 – Used as a noun in pharmacy.[2][6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (chemistry) Relating to alkalis; having the properties of a base, alkaline: une eau alcaline, un savon alcalin (a solution is alkaline with a pH above 7).[7][2][5]
  2. Métaux alcalins: the alkali metals (lithium, sodium, potassium…), which with oxygen give alkalis.[7][5]
  3. Pile alcaline: an alkaline battery, with an alkaline electrolyte.[7]

Noun

  1. (pharmacy) An alkaline medicine, an antacid.[7][5]

Word family

  • alcalinité
  • alcaliniser

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Alcalin.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/alcalin. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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