cliquer

Forms

cliquer^[1]

Etymology

It is of imitative origin, formed on an expressive stem that suggests a sharp sound, which also gave clic.^[2][3][4] The DHLF points out that the verb itself is recorded later than some of its derivatives, so it must have been in use from the early 13th century.^[5] The TLFi takes it as a doublet of the old verb clinquer, which survives in clinquant.^[2]

The same stem is found with other vowels, as in claque, and other consonants, as in clapper and clapoter, and in other languages, especially Germanic ones.^[5] Wiktionary compares German klicken, Danish klikke and Swedish klicka.^[1] The computing sense is a loan from English click, a verb of the same imitative origin.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1306 in Guillaume Guiart's Royaux lignages, where crossbow bolts en l'air cliquent “ring out in the air”, meaning “to resound, make a sharp noise”.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

In Old French it was used of a rattling, crackling or clanging noise, such as a stork's beak, burning coals or weapons.^[7] The verb later fell out of use except in regional speech or as an archaism, although its derivatives stayed in use.^[5] The TLFi records it in literary use around 1900 for a sharp sound.^[2]

It was revived in the late 20th century as an anglicism of computing, from the English verb click, to press the button of a mouse; it corresponds to the noun clic.^[5][6][4] From it come double-cliquer, which the Grand Robert calls badly formed, and cliquable, said of an area of the screen that can be clicked.^[5][4]

Timeline

• c. 1230 – The derivatives clikete and cliketer are already recorded.^[5]
• 1306 – First record of the verb, meaning “to resound”, in Guillaume Guiart.^[2][4]
• 1694 – The noun clique appears, probably from the verb.^[5]
• late 20th century – The verb is taken up in computing after the English to click.^[5][6]

Meanings

Verb

1. (computing) To click: to press and release the button of a mouse or a similar device to select something on the screen: cliquez ici pour continuer.^[6][8][9]
2. (computing, transitive) To click on something: cliquer un lien.^[6]
3. (archaic) To make a sharp, ringing noise.^[6][2][9]

Word family

• cliquette
• cliquet
• cliqueter
• clique
• double-cliquer
• cliquable

Related words

• clic
• clinquant
• claquer
• English click

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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, 781b
4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Tobler, Adolf; Lommatzsch, Erhard (1925–2002), Altfranzösisches Wörterbuch, 11 vols., Berlin / Wiesbaden / Stuttgart: Weidmann / Steiner, p. 2:484
8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)