débarquer

Forms

débarquer^[1] In the 16th century désembarquer was also used, but Vaugelas found débarquer smoother and more usual, and the longer form fell out of use.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French dé- + barque + -er.^{[4][1][5][6][7]} barque is from Italian barca, from Latin barca, a word of uncertain origin which Bloch and Wartburg say is usually explained as *barica, derived from a Greek word for an Egyptian boat.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in Thierry's dictionary of 1564, transitively, for putting goods and people ashore.^[4][9][5]

Semantic evolution

The intransitive use “to leave a ship” followed at the end of the 16th century.^[9] The past participle débarqué meant a newcomer by 1692 (Palaprat), and by 1713 the verb was used for getting off any means of transport.^[4][9] The familiar transitive sense “to get rid of (someone) from a post” is recorded by Esnault in 1918.^[5][9]

In familiar French it also means to turn up unexpectedly and, figuratively, to be unaware of what has just happened, as if back from a long voyage.^[6] Its derivative débarquement took on a military sense in the 20th century, common after the Allied landing in Normandy on 6 June 1944.^[9]

Timeline

• 1564 – First recorded, in Thierry.^[4][8]
• late 16th century – The intransitive sense “to go ashore”.^[9]
• 1692 – Débarqué “newcomer” in Palaprat.^[4][9]
• 1713 – It is used for leaving any means of transport.^[9]
• 1771 – The noun le débarquer is recorded by the Dictionnaire de Trévoux.^[2][9]
• 1918 – Esnault records the sense “to dismiss”.^[5][9]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To unload goods or land passengers or troops from a ship.^[6][3][1]
2. (transitive, figurative, familiar) To get rid of someone, to dismiss: Le directeur s'est fait débarquer.^[6][5][1]
3. (intransitive) To disembark, go ashore, and by extension to get off a train or plane.^[6][3][1]
4. (intransitive, nautical) To leave a ship's crew.^[6]
5. (intransitive, familiar) To turn up unexpectedly: débarquer chez quelqu'un.^[6][1]
6. (intransitive, figurative, familiar) To be unaware of recent events: Il ne sait rien, il débarque !^[6][1]
7. (Louisiana) To get out of a vehicle.^[1]

Word family

• débarquement
• débarcadère
• débarquage

Related words

• barque
• embarquer
• désembarquer
• rembarquer

Usage notes

The infinitive and the past participle are also used as masculine nouns, le débarquer and le débarqué (1771), mainly in au débarquer “on landing, on arrival”.^[2][9][3] The dated phrase les Anglais ont débarqué was said of a woman having her period.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ a b c d e 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 c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 1, 251a
8. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert