dé

dé¹ die (dice)

Pronunciation

• /de/^[1]

Forms

dé m (plural dés)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the gaming die is inherited from Old French dé, of obscure origin.^[2][3] The etymon most often proposed is Latin datum, the neuter past participle of dō (“to give”) used as a noun, through phrases meaning “to play a piece” such as one with calculus (“counter”); the verb is well attested in the sense “to play”, but there is no proof of the etymology.^[3][4][2] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert give the Latin word without reservation, as “game piece”.^[5][6] Littré cites Ménage for the Latin explanation (“what is thrown on the table”) and Golius for an Arabic one, and finds the first far likelier;^[7] Wiktionary still mentions an Arabic origin, comparing Arabic أَعْدَاد (ʔaʕdād).^[1]

Cognate with Italian dado, Spanish dado, Portuguese dado, Catalan dau and Old Occitan dat.^[4][7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded before 1150 in the French translation of Marbode's Lapidary, meaning a die for games.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Several figurative phrases about chance, luck and fate grew from the game: coup de dé, and les dés en sont jetés, a 16th-century adaptation of Caesar's alea jacta est.^[3] Phrases current in the 17th century have since aged, such as tenir le dé “to dominate the conversation”, rompre le dé “to interrupt someone” and quitter le dé “to give up the game”, while les dés sont pipés “the dice are loaded” is still used.^[3]

By likeness of shape, the word named in architecture (1680) a cube of stone set under the feet of a statue, and in cooking a small cube of food (1806).^[3][2][8] The English word die (early 14th century) comes from the Old French word.^[9]

Timeline

• Before 1150 – Dé appears in the translation of Marbode's Lapidary.^[2][3]
• c. 1190 – Garnier de Pont-Sainte-Maxence uses it.^[10][7]
• Early 14th century – The English word die is recorded.^[9]
• 16th century – Les dés en sont jetés adapts alea jacta est.^[3]
• 1680 – Richelet records the sense in architecture.^[2][3]
• 1806 – Grimod de La Reynière uses it for a small cube of food.^[8][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A die, a small cube with one to six points on its faces, used in games;^[6][11][2] jeter les dés, to throw the dice.^[6][11][2]
2. Les dés: dice games;^[6] jouer aux dés.^[6]
3. Coup de dés: a throw of the dice;^[6][7][11] (figurative) a matter left to chance.^[6][7][11]
4. Les dés sont jetés: the decision is made, whatever happens.^[6][3][1]
5. Dés pipés, dés chargés: loaded dice.^[7][3]
6. A small cube of food: couper des carottes en dés.^[11][1][8]
7. (architecture) A roughly cubic block forming the main part of a pedestal.^[11][2]

dé² thimble

Pronunciation

• /de/^[1]

Forms

dé m (plural dés)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the thimble is inherited from Old French deel, inherited from Vulgar Latin *ditāle, a reduced form of Late Latin digitāle (“what covers the finger”).^[5][6][2][3] That is the neuter of Latin digitālis (“of the finger”) used as a noun, from digitus (“finger”);^[2][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg note that the word is found in the glosses.^[4]

The modern form (plural dez in 1260) arose under the influence of the gaming word.^[2][3][4] Littré points out how far the Romance forms of the two words differ.^[7] A form deaul, recorded in the 14th century, has counterparts in the dialects of the West and East, and more rarely of the Centre.^[4][3]

Cognate with Italian ditale, Spanish dedal and Old Occitan dedal.^[4][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded about 1200, as deel, in Auberee, meaning a thimble.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word has always named the small cap that protects the finger pushing the needle.^[3] By likeness of shape, dé à coudre is used familiarly for a very small drinking glass,^[3][6] and by metonymy for a tiny amount of liquid.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – Deel appears in Auberee.^[2][3]
• 1260 – The plural dez is used in Étienne Boileau's Livre des métiers.^[2][3]
• 14th century – The form deaul is recorded.^[4][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A thimble;^[6][11][2] dé à coudre.^[6][11][2]
2. (familiar) Dé à coudre: a very small drinking glass; a tiny quantity of liquid.^[6][11]
3. (nautical) Dé de voilier: a metal plate on the palm of the hand, used to sew sails.^[2]