carton

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kaʁ.tɔ̃/^[1]

Forms

carton m (plural cartons)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian cartone, the augmentative of carta (“paper”) with the suffix -one,^[2][3][4] itself from Latin charta, the source of carte.^[3] The Italian word is found in the 16th century both in its general sense and as a painters' term.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded about 1500, in an inventory of François I of Luxembourg, for thick, stiff paper: pasteboard.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From the material it passed to a box made of it (1611, Cotgrave, as in carton à chapeaux), to a portfolio for drawings (1800) and to a filing box.^[3][5][2] In painting it is a full-size drawing used as a model for a fresco or tapestry: Richelet records it in 1680, but a letter of 1641 already speaks of les cartons de dessus les fenestres.^[2][6] Printers used it from 1621 for a leaf reprinted to correct an error.^[6] The shooting target made of cardboard gave faire un carton “to hit the mark; to score a resounding win”.^[3][5] By allusion to the props of the theatre, de carton means “sham”: Saint-Simon wrote of a roi de carton (before 1755), and carton-pâte (1860) has become the usual word for fake scenery.^[2][3] Familiarly it is also an invitation card, and taper le carton is to play cards.^[5][3]

English took carton in 1816 for thin pasteboard, and for the boxes in 1890; cartoon (1670s), a preliminary drawing, comes from French carton or directly from the Italian word.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1500 – Carton “pasteboard” is first recorded.^[2][3]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records a box made of it.^[5][3]
• 1621 – Printers use it for a reprinted leaf.^[6]
• 1641 – Used for an artist's full-size drawing.^[6][3]
• before 1755 – Saint-Simon writes of a roi de carton.^[2]
• 1800 – Boiste records the portfolio for drawings.^[2]
• 1816 – English borrows the word.^[7]
• 1860 – Carton-pâte is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Cardboard, pasteboard: carton ondulé.^[8][2]
2. A cardboard box: carton à chaussures; a filing box.^[8][9]
3. (painting) A full-size preparatory drawing for a fresco, tapestry or stained glass.^[2][5]
4. A cardboard target;^[5] faire un carton, to hit the target, (familiar) to score a big win.^[5][3]
5. (familiar) An invitation card;^[5] taper le carton, to play cards.^[5]
6. (football) Carton jaune, carton rouge: a yellow or red card.^[1]
7. De carton, en carton-pâte: sham, fake.^[8][2]
8. (cartography) An inset map on the same sheet.^[3]

Word family

• cartonner
• cartonnage
• cartonnerie
• cartonnier
• carton-pâte

Related words

• carte
• Italian cartone
• English carton
• English cartoon

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 k l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)