charbonnier

Forms

charbonnier m (plural charbonniers, feminine charbonnière)^[1] Franco-Provençal charboner (late 12th century), Picard carbonnier (about 1230).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin carbōnārius (“charcoal burner, coal seller”), from carbō (“charcoal”); the adjective continues the Late Latin adjective of the same form, “relating to coal”.^[2][4][5][6]

Cognate with Romanian cărbunar, Italian carbonaio, Catalan carboner, Spanish carbonero and Portuguese carvoeiro.^[6][5][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Franco-Provençal form charboner “a man who makes or sells charcoal” is found at the end of the 12th century in Girart de Roussillon.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From the end of the 13th century the word described black animals, such as a kind of goose, and in 1778 charbonnière was the name of a tit.^[2][4] The adjective “relating to coal” is recorded from 1403 (les fosses carbonnieres).^[2] A coal-carrying ship was a charbonnière in 1831 and a charbonnier by 1851.^[2][8]

In history it translated Italian carbonaro, since members of that secret society met in charcoal burners' huts;^[4] French now uses the Italian word.^[4] The phrase la foi du charbonnier is the naive faith of a simple man, and the proverb charbonnier est maître chez soi means that everyone may live at home as he likes;^[9][8] Littré tells that it goes back to a charcoal burner who, not knowing François I, took the first place at his own table.^[7] Montluc quotes the charcoal burner's answer in the 16th century: Chascun est roi en sa maison.^[7]

Timeline

• Late 12th century – Charboner appears in Girart de Roussillon.^[2]
• c. 1230 – The Picard form carbonnier is recorded.^[2]
• Late 13th century – Used of black-coloured animals, such as a goose.^[2][4]
• 1403 – First recorded as an adjective, “relating to coal”.^[2]
• 1778 – Charbonnière names a bird, a tit.^[2][4]
• 1831 – Charbonnière is used of a ship.^[2]
• 1838 – Charbonnerie is used for the Carbonari movement.^[4]
• 1851 – Charbonnier names a collier ship.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) A charcoal burner, who makes charcoal in the forest.^[9][8]
2. A coal merchant, a person who sells coal.^[9][10]
3. La foi du charbonnier: the naive, unquestioning faith of a simple person.^[9][10]
4. A collier, a cargo ship carrying coal in bulk.^[9][2]
5. (history) A member of the Carbonari.^[7][4]

Adjective

1. Relating to the coal trade or industry, un bassin charbonnier.^[9][2]

Related words

• charbon
• Latin carbōnārius

Usage notes

The proverb charbonnier est maître chez soi (or dans sa maison) is still current.^[9][10] The feminine charbonnière also names the great tit and a black-capped mushroom, the russule charbonnière.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, 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 Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)