Etymologically
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bisque

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Pronunciation

Forms

bisque f (plural bisques)[1]

Etymology

The origin is uncertain or unknown.[2][3][4][5] It may be connected with Norman “bisque” “sour soup” or “bitter drink”, whose derivation from the name of the Spanish province of Biscay (“Biscaye”) is not proven;[2][1][6] the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert cite Biscay as a possible source.[7][6][8] Pierre Guiraud proposed a southern origin, from Provençal “bisco” “soup” and “bevel, small piece”, which he linked, through words for something cut on the slant, with bis and with biseau and bisquer.[2][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word is recorded from the early 17th century, perhaps already in Mellin de Saint-Gelais (died 1558), for a rich soup;[2][7][3] Furetière describes it as made of pigeons, chickens, offal and mutton juice, served only at the tables of great lords.[2]

Semantic evolution

A variant known from the 18th century, bisque de poisson, made with minced carp, roe and crayfish, led to the modern soup, a creamy purée of shellfish, recorded by the Académie in 1835.[2] Bisque d'écrevisses and bisque de homard are the classic kinds[6][9][1]; English took the word as bisque.[6][9][1]

Timeline

  • before 1558 – Perhaps in Mellin de Saint-Gelais.[2]
  • c. 1600 – Bisque, a rich soup.[3][9]
  • 18th century – Bisque de poisson with crayfish.[2]
  • 1835 – A shellfish soup (Académie).[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A bisque, a creamy soup of puréed shellfish: bisque de homard.[6][10]

Usage notes

A second bisque (from 1547, biscaye[11][9][4]; bisque about 1576) was the fifteen-point advantage given at real tennis, of obscure origin, perhaps also from Biscay or from Italian bisca (“gambling den”);[11][9][4] prendre sa bisque was to take one's advantage.[4][9] A third, familiar bisque “vexation” (1853, George Sand) is a back-formation from bisquer.[11][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  4. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  5. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
  6. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 1, 379a
  9. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  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