clarinette

Forms

clarinette f (plural clarinettes)^[1]

Etymology

It is most probably derived, with the suffix -ette, from Occitan clarin (“oboe”), a Provençal word recorded in 1508, itself formed on Old Occitan clar (“clear (of a sound)”), recorded in the 13th century.^[2][3][4] The Grand Robert takes the Provençal word back to Latin clārus (“clear”).^[5] The TLFi suggests that the suffix may have been added to the Provençal word to keep it apart from clarine “bell with a clear sound hung on an animal's neck”.^[2][3]

A second explanation makes it a diminutive of that word: Littré gives it, and the TLFi attributes it to Bloch and Wartburg, but the TLFi and Rey find it less likely.^[6][2][3] Etymonline follows this view for the English word.^[7] Wiktionary instead traces it to Old French clarin.^[1] Littré also records the word in Genevan French.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1753, in the third volume of the Encyclopédie, as the name of a wind instrument.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

By metonymy the word was applied from 1786 to the person who plays the instrument;^[2][3] the derivative clarinettiste (1834) later replaced it in that sense.^[3] By analogy, the infantry slang of the early 19th century called a rifle a clarinette (1808).^[2][3][4]

English took the word as clarinet, recorded from 1768.^[7]

Timeline

• 1753 – First record, in the Encyclopédie, for the wind instrument.^[2]
• 1786 – Used of the player of the instrument.^[2][3]
• 1798 – The Académie records the sense “player”.^[4]
• 1808 – D'Hautel records the infantry slang sense “rifle”.^[2][4]
• 1834 – First record of the derivative clarinettiste.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A clarinet, a woodwind instrument with a single reed fitted to a mouthpiece.^[8][9][4]
2. (dated) A clarinet player, a clarinettiste.^[2][4]
3. (old military slang) A rifle (fusil).^[2][4]

Word family

• clarinettiste

Related words

• clair
• clarine
• Occitan clarin
• Latin clārus
• English clarinet

Usage notes

Littré describes jouer de la clarinette avec son nez as a mocking gesture of boys and young soldiers, made by spreading the hands from the end of the nose and wiggling the fingers as if playing the instrument.^[6] Quemada's datings record the children's phrase c'est clarinette, a play on c'est clair et net “it's crystal clear”.^[10]

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF