bus

Forms

bus m (invariable)^[1][2]

Etymology

It is a clipping from French omnibus that keeps only the last syllable of the word.^[3][2][4][5] The GLLF and the TLFi instead treat it as a familiar shortening of autobus,^[6][7] which was itself formed in 1906 on the ending of the same word when the Paris omnibus company launched its motor buses.^[4][7] That word (1828) is short for voiture omnibus “vehicle for all”, from Latin omnibus (“for all”), the dative plural of omnis (“all”).^[4]

The electronics and computing sense (mid-20th century) is taken by the Petit Robert, the Grand Robert and Larousse from English omnibus.^[2][3][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1893, as a short form of omnibus for the horse-drawn public coach.^[3][9][4]

Semantic evolution

The dates of the first record differ: the Petit Robert gives 1881, the Grand Robert and Rey 1893, the FEW and Larousse lexicons about 1907, and the GLLF the early 20th century.^{[2][3][4][9][6]} After motor buses replaced the horse-drawn omnibus, bus became the familiar word for the autobus, alongside other shortenings such as métro.^[4][7]

Bus also became a word-forming element of its own, as in aérobus, électrobus and the aircraft name Airbus (1966).^[4] In electricity barre omnibus is recorded in 1963, and the short bus names the shared conductor of electronic circuits and computers from the middle of the 20th century.^[4][2]

Timeline

• 1828 – Omnibus is recorded for the public coach.^[4]
• 1881 – The Petit Robert's date for bus.^[2]
• 1893 – Bus is recorded as a short form of omnibus.^[3][9][4]
• 1906 – The Paris omnibus company launches motor buses, and autobus is coined.^[4]
• 1907 – Bus is recorded as a short form of autobus.^[9]
• 1963 – Barre omnibus appears in electricity.^[4]
• Mid-20th century – The electronics sense appears.^[2][3]
• 1966 – Airbus is formed as the name of an aircraft.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (familiar) A bus, a large motor vehicle for public transport in a town: Elle attend le bus devant la gare.^{[2][10][8][6]}
2. (electronics, computing) A bus, a set of conductors shared by several circuits, connecting the components of a computer.^[2][10][8]

Related words

• omnibus
• autobus
• minibus
• trolleybus
• abribus

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 353a
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ 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
8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b c d Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)