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décompression

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Etymology and origin of the French word décompression

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1868 Journal de médecine et de chirurgie pratiques More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Latin comprimo

Pronunciation

  • /de.kɔ̃.pʁɛ.sjɔ̃/[1]
  • /de.kɔ̃.pʁe.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

décompression f (plural décompressions)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French dé- + compression.[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is from the Journal de médecine et de chirurgie pratiques in 1868, in the physical sense of a removal or lowering of pressure.[2][6] Earlier datings in the dictionaries were 1875, in the Journal officiel (GLLF), and 1877 (Petit Robert).[6][7]

Semantic evolution

The word was used above all in physics and medicine.[5] Littré defines it as the lowering of pressure, and the return to open air, in work done under compressed air.[8] From this came the accidents de décompression that strike divers and caisson workers who return too quickly to atmospheric pressure.[7][4]

Figuratively it came to mean the removal or loosening of a constraint, and the state that follows.[2] The BHVF records a political sense, “détente”, which the TLFi lacks.[6] Larousse gives a familiar sense, relaxation after nervous strain or hard work, and the Petit Robert a computing sense, the decompression of a file.[9][4]

Timeline

  • 1868 – First record, in the Journal de médecine et de chirurgie pratiques.[2][6]
  • 1875 – The Journal officiel uses it, the GLLF's first date.[7]
  • 1936 – Thibaudet uses it figuratively.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of decompressing; the ending or lowering of compression or of the pressure of a gas: soupape de décompression.[4][10]
  2. The gradual lowering of pressure for a diver returning to normal atmospheric pressure: paliers de décompression, accident de décompression.[4][10][9]
  3. (medicine) A technique for reducing abnormal pressure on an organ.[4]
  4. (engines) An operation that briefly removes the compression in an engine's cylinder.[9]
  5. (familiar) Relaxation after nervous tension or hard work.[9][2]
  6. (computing) The decompression of a compressed file.[4]
  • compression
  • décomprimer
  • comprimer

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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Décompression.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/d%C3%A9compression. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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