bombe

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bɔ̃b/^[1]

Forms

bombe f (plural bombes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian bomba,^{[2][3][4][5][1]} found in Medieval Latin for an incendiary dart (about 1452) and later for an explosive device.^[3] The Italian word is either an independent imitative formation or comes from Latin bombus (“booming noise”),^[3][5][6][7] like bombarde.^[4][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Oudin's dictionary (1640) has it for a hollow iron ball filled with powder and fired from a mortar, its fuse lit by the charge.^[9][8][2]

Semantic evolution

The history of the word follows that of artillery: the mortar shell, then the bomb dropped from aircraft, then any explosive device.^[3][10] Bombe atomique appeared in 1945, followed by the bombe H and the neutron bomb.^[3] Tomber comme une bombe “to arrive out of the blue” is used by Mme de Sévigné in 1689.^[3][9]

Round shapes gave the bombe glacée, an ice-cream dessert frozen in a domed mould,^[1] a riding helmet,^[11][12] and the aerosol can.^[1][11] In familiar French une bombe is a strikingly attractive person.^[1]

Timeline

• about 1452 – Medieval Latin bomba, an incendiary dart.^[3]
• 1640 – French bombe (Oudin).^[9][5]
• 1689 – Tomber comme une bombe.^[3]
• 1701 – The verb bomber “to make convex”.^[4]
• 1945 – Bombe atomique.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A bomb, an explosive device or projectile: bombe à retardement “time bomb”.^[10][1]
2. An aerosol can, a spray.^[1][11]
3. A domed ice-cream dessert, bombe glacée.^[1]
4. A hard riding helmet.^[11]
5. (colloquial) A very attractive person; a bombshell.^[1]

Word family

• bomber

Related words

• bombarde
• Latin bombus
• English bomb
• English bombe

Usage notes

A second bombe, in familiar faire la bombe “to go on a spree”, is a shortening of bombance “feasting” (1881).^[5][10][6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b 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 i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 1, 431a
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF