Etymologically
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aplomb

Etymology and origin of the French word aplomb

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1547, J. Martin
Ultimate origin
Latin (plumbum)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French aplomb
English aplomb

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /a.plɔ̃/[1]

Forms

aplomb m (plural aplombs)[1] Also written à-plomb in the late 18th century.[2][3]

Etymology

It is the phrase à plomb “perpendicularly”, literally “by the plumb line”, written as one word.[4][5][6][7] Plomb “lead” comes from Latin plumbum, the metal of the weight at the end of the line.[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The phrase à plomb is old: about the 12th century the Roman d'Alixandre describes high walls of squared stones à plon mis.[6][5] The noun is first recorded in 1547, in J. Martin, for exact verticality, as shown by a plumb line.[5][4][7]

Semantic evolution

By extension it meant the balance of a solid body and, from 1690, of a person or animal standing on its limbs;[7] les aplombs of a horse are the set of its legs.[7][3] From physical balance the word passed to mental balance (1798) and to self-assurance in speech and manner: the theatre reviews of the 1790s praise actors for their à-plomb, earlier than the date of 1834 given by Rey.[7][2] The pejorative sense, brazen nerve, as in vous ne manquez pas d'aplomb, is now common.[3][9] The phrase d'aplomb “vertical; steady” dates from 1762, and in popular use from 1896 it means “in good health”;[7] Quebec French formed raplomber “to set right again” (1930).[3][7] In dance it is the controlled stability that lets a dancer begin and end a movement precisely.[9]

English took aplomb in 1828 for self-assurance.[8]

Timeline

  • 12th century – À plon “perpendicular” is used of walls.[6]
  • 1547 – Aplomb “verticality” is first recorded.[5][7]
  • 1690 – Used for the balance of the body.[7]
  • 1762 – D'aplomb “vertically” is recorded.[3]
  • 1793 – Theatre language praises an actor's à-plomb.[2][3]
  • 1828 – English borrows it for self-assurance.[8]
  • 1930 – Quebec French raplomber is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Verticality, as shown by a plumb line; balance of an upright body: le mur a perdu son aplomb.[3][9]
  2. (chiefly plural) The way a horse's legs stand in relation to the ground.[3]
  3. Self-assurance that nothing disconcerts.[3][9]
  4. (pejorative) Brazen nerve, cheek: il a l'aplomb de soutenir le contraire.[3][9]
  5. (dance) Controlled stability at the start and end of a movement.[9]
  6. D'aplomb: vertical, steady;[3] (familiar) in good health: se sentir d'aplomb.[3][9]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Aplomb.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/aplomb. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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