bosseler

Forms

bosseler^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French bosse + -eler.^[2][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg call the origin of bosse unexplained; the prototype implied by it, by Old Occitan bossa and by Italian bozza would be Vulgar Latin *botlia.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in Béroul's Tristan (1170–1191), meaning to deform something with dents or bumps.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The sense of accidental denting was the first one, and in the 16th century Paré used the verb of bones that hollow and bulge “as one sees on pewter and copper pots”.^[2][6] The sense “to work in relief, to emboss”, especially of plate and silverware, is recorded before 1643.^[2][3] Most of its derivatives belong to this second, technical sense.^[3]

Timeline

• 1170–1191 – First use, “to deform with bumps”, in Béroul's Tristan.^[2]
• 16th century – Paré and Olivier de Serres use it of pots and of furniture dented when thrown down.^[6]
• c. 1560 – The noun bosselure appears, in goldsmith's work.^[3]
• Before 1643 – Philippe de Hurges uses it for “to work in relief”.^[2]
• 1718 – The noun bosselage appears.^[3]
• 1838 – The opposite débosseler appears.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To dent, to deform with bumps: une portière bosselée.^[7][2][8]
2. (transitive, by extension) To cover a surface irregularly with bumps or hummocks.^[7]
3. (transitive, decorative arts) To emboss, to work metal such as silver plate in relief.^[2][6][1]
4. (pronominal) se bosseler: to become dented.^[6]

Word family

• bosselure
• bosselage
• bossellement
• débosseler

Related words

• bosse
• bossu
• bossuer
• cabosser

Usage notes

It is conjugated like appeler, with a doubled ⟨l⟩ before a silent e: il bosselle.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse