clitoris

Forms

clitoris m (invariable)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek κλειτορίς (kleitorís), a term of female anatomy.^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The Greek word, with its rare ending ⟨-toris⟩, seems to have been made more or less arbitrarily;^[3] Chantraine connects it with κλείω (kleíō, “to shut”), from κλείς (kleís, “bar, bolt, key”).^[3] Etymonline likewise suggests the verb, with reference to the organ being covered, and notes that the sense intended by the anatomists who took up the word is uncertain.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in Cotgrave's French–English dictionary of 1611, as the anatomical term.^[2][7][3]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept its anatomical sense and spread into common use, partly in familiar and slang shortenings: cli-cli (1953), clito (1972) and, after English, clit.^[3][8] The adjective clitoridien (1764 according to the DHLF, 1838 according to the TLFi) displaced clitorien (1824), and clitoridectomie (mid-20th century) names the excision of the clitoris.^[3][2] English clitoris is recorded from the 1610s.^[6]

Timeline

• 1611 – Cotgrave records the word.^[2][7]
• 1764 – Clitoridien is recorded.^[3]
• 1824 – Nysten has clitorien.^[2]
• 1953 – The familiar cli-cli is recorded.^[3]
• 1972 – The shortening clito is recorded.^[3][8]

Meanings

Noun

1. (anatomy) The clitoris, a small erectile organ at the upper end of the vulve.^[2][8][7]

Word family

• clitoridien
• clitoridectomie
• clito

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. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 773a
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert