atelier

Forms

atelier m (plural ateliers)^[1] Middle French astelier and hastelier;^[2][1][3] attelier was long in use.^[2][1][3]

Etymology

It is formed from Old French astelle (“chip of wood”) + -ier, the old form of attelle.^{[2][4][5][6][7]} The Old French noun is from Late Latin astella (“small board, chip”), recorded in the 5th century, an alteration of classical astula, itself altered from assula, a diminutive of assis (“board”).^[4][5] Bloch and Wartburg suggest a crossing with hastula (“little stem”), from hasta (“staff”);^[4] Etymonline traces it to hastella (“thin stick”).^[8] Littré took it to be the place where the small boards were made, a joiner's shop.^[3]

Littré cites Occitan astelier (“pile of lances”) and Spanish astillero (“rack for pikes”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1332 as astelier “pile of wood”.^[2][4][9]

Semantic evolution

By 1362 it named the place where wood was worked, by coopers, wheelwrights and joiners, and in the early 15th century any place of craft work.^[2][6] In 1563 Bernard Palissy used hastelier for his own workshop; since then the word has served both the crafts and the fine arts.^[2][3]

By metonymy it named the workers of one workshop (1690) and the artists working round a master (1808).^[2] Public relief gave atelier public (1789), atelier de charité and the ateliers nationaux of 1848, works opened by the State for the unemployed;^[2][10] in industry it names a section of a factory.^[2][9] Freemasons use it for a lodge (before 1866).^[2][11] In the 19th century the artist's studio became a symbol of art itself.^[2] In the 20th century it also came to mean a working group.^[9]

English borrowed it in 1840 for a workroom or studio, especially of a painter or sculptor.^[8]

Timeline

• 1332 – First record, as astelier “pile of wood”.^[2][4]
• 1362 – It names the place where wood is worked.^[2][6]
• Early 15th century – It is used of any craft workshop.^[2]
• 1563 – Bernard Palissy uses hastelier for his workshop.^[2]
• 1690 – It names the workers of a workshop.^[2]
• 1789 – Atelier public is recorded.^[2]
• 1840 – English borrows atelier.^[8]
• 1848 – The ateliers nationaux are opened.^[2][10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A workshop where craftsmen or workers work together: l'atelier d'un cordonnier.^[9][12][10]
2. A section of a factory where one kind of work is done: chef d'atelier.^[9][10]
3. The staff of a workshop.^[10][12]
4. The studio of a painter, sculptor or photographer.^[10][11]
5. A working group on a theme, especially in teaching.^[12][9]
6. (freemasonry) A lodge of freemasons, or its meeting place.^[11][2]
7. (history) Ateliers nationaux: public works opened by the State in 1848 for the unemployed.^[9][10]

Related words

• attelle
• ais
• Late Latin astella
• English atelier

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 594b
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
11. ^ a b c 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
12. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)