Etymologically
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carton

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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
  • 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)