clicher

Forms

clicher^[1]

Etymology

It is probably onomatopoeic, from a root klitch- imitating the sound of the matrix striking the molten metal.^[2][3][4][5] The TLFi and the DHLF also allow, as less likely, a Middle German Klitsch (“soft mass”), itself onomatopoeic.^[2][6] Littré took the verb for the same word as cliquer “to fasten”, linked to German Klinke (“latch”), and compared Walloon cliche (“latch”).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Boiste records it in 1803 as a printing term: to make a cast of a forme of type by pouring molten metal into a mould of it.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

The participle became the noun cliché in 1809, and Bloch and Wartburg date clichage to 1809 and clicheur to 1835.^[2][4] In the 19th century the verb took the figurative sense “to copy, to trace” (1866), stressing either the fixed nature of the image or its lack of originality.^[6] The noun cliché was later used in photography for the negative (1865) and figuratively for a trite phrase or idea (1869).^[6] English borrowed cliché in 1825 as a printer's word for a stereotype block.^[9]

Timeline

• 1803 – First recorded, by Boiste.^[2][8]
• 1809 – Wailly records the noun cliché in printing.^[2][4]
• 1835 – Clicheur is recorded.^[4]
• 1866 – The figurative sense “to copy” appears, and clicherie is recorded by Larousse.^[6][2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (printing) To stereotype: to make a cliché of a page of type or an engraving, by casting metal in a mould taken from it: L'imprimeur a cliché toute la page.^[2][10][7]
2. (figurative) To copy, to fix as an unoriginal image.^[6][1]
3. (photographers' slang) To photograph.^[1][11]

Word family

• clichage
• cliché
• clicheur
• clicherie

Usage notes

A separate verb clicher (Grand Robert 2), recorded from 1836 in Landais, means to pronounce the sibilants or the hushing sounds defectively; it is of onomatopoeic origin, imitating that faulty pronunciation.^[2][5][8]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 788a
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF