couleuvrine

Forms

couleuvrine f (plural couleuvrines)^[1] Middle French coulouvrine (Froissart) and coulevrine (1411).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French couleuvre + -ine, from the long, thin shape of the gun.^[4][2][5] Rey doubts that the shape is enough to explain it and links the name to the image of fire-spitting snakes and dragons.^[6] The base noun is from Vulgar Latin colobra, an altered form of Latin colubra (“snake”).^[4] Wiktionary compares Latin colubrīnus (“snake-like”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as coulouvrine in Froissart's Chroniques at the end of the 14th century, for an old long and slender cannon.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

The word named both a long piece of artillery, in use from the 15th to the 18th century, and a hand firearm carried by foot soldiers, the couleuvriniers (1473).^[2][4] In the classical language être sous la couleuvrine of a fortress was to be close enough to be defended, or threatened, by its guns (1688); it was also said of a person exposed to someone's power.^[4][2] The word is now historical.^[1]

Timeline

• late 14th century – Coulouvrine in Froissart's Chroniques.^[4][2][5]
• 1411 – Juvénal des Ursins writes coulevrine.^[2]
• 1473 – Couleuvrinier “soldier serving a culverin” is recorded.^[4]
• 1688 – Mme de La Fayette uses être sous la couleuvrine figuratively.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (historical) A culverin: an old cannon with a long, slender barrel.^[7][4]
2. (historical) Couleuvrine à main: a hand culverin, an early portable firearm.^[4][2]
3. (dated, figurative) Être sous la couleuvrine de: to be within reach of a stronghold's guns, or exposed to someone's power.^[4][2]

Related words

• couleuvre
• Latin colubra

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
3. ^ 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 j k 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
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert