caqueter

Forms

caqueter^[1]

Etymology

It is onomatopoeic: the verb is formed with the ending -er on an imitative stem ⟨kak-⟩ that reproduces the cackling of some birds.^[2][3][4][5] The TLFi and the DHLF compare Late Latin cacabō (“to cry (of the partridge)”), an adaptation of a Greek verb, and the DHLF also cacillō (“to cackle”).^[2][3] Littré rejects Pasquier's view that it comes from coquet, since the old forms always have ⟨a⟩, and sees in it simply an onomatopoeia.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The verb is indirectly attested in 1320 by its derivative caqueteresse, a woman fond of chatter.^[2][3] The verb itself appears about 1450 in the Mistère du Viel Testament, meaning to chatter indiscreetly.^[2][3][7]

Semantic evolution

The sense of talking was the first one recorded, with a scornful tone.^[3] At the end of the 15th century Saint-Gelais's translation of the Aeneid used quaquetter for the cry of certain birds, and Furetière (1690) applied it specially to the hen clucking when she lays.^[2][3][7]

The verb gave caquet (1450), caqueterie (1418), caqueteur (1507), caquetage (1556) and caquètement (1572); caquetoire (1522) named a high-backed chair suited to conversation.^[3][4][2] Rabattre or rabaisser le caquet de quelqu'un “to take someone down a peg” is recorded in the 15th century, the second form in 1539.^[3]

Timeline

• 1320 – The derivative caqueteresse “chattering woman” attests the verb indirectly.^[2][3]
• c. 1450 – Caqueter “to chatter indiscreetly” in the Mistère du Viel Testament.^[2]
• 1462 – Bloch and Wartburg's first date for the verb.^[4]
• end of the 15th century – Quaquetter is used of the cry of birds.^[2][7]
• 1690 – Furetière records it of the hen clucking at laying time.^[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. Of a hen: to cackle or cluck before or after laying: les poules caquetaient dans la basse-cour.^[8][2][9]
2. (figurative, familiar) To chatter or prattle on about nothing, often indiscreetly.^[8][2][9][1]
3. (familiar) Of a small child: to babble.^[9]

Word family

• caquet
• caquetage
• caqueteur
• caqueterie
• caquètement
• caquetoire

Related words

• cacaber

Usage notes

Caqueter is conjugated like jeter (il caquette).^[7] Littré allowed both je caquette and je caquète.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 j 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 47a
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse