découper

Forms

découper^[1] Old French descolper and decauper.^[2] Littré's quotations also show decolper, descoper and decoper.^[3]

Etymology

It is formed from French dé- + couper.^[2][1][4] Littré takes the prefix in its distributive sense, cutting into several pieces.^[3] The base verb is in turn from French coup,^[5] and the FEW files the whole family under Latin colaphus.^[6] Littré cites the dialect form Picard décoper.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1150 Wace's Vie de saint Nicolas has descolper “to cut into pieces”.^[2][4] In the 12th-century life of Thomas Becket the form decolpez describes a man cut down with blows.^[3]

Semantic evolution

In the early 13th century the past participle described shoes cut in a pattern (cauces decaupees), and about 1268 Étienne Boileau's book of crafts uses decauper for cutting regularly along a line.^[2] The Académie recorded cutting out a picture or figure in 1694.^[2]

Carving meat at table, used absolutely, is recorded from 1811,^[2] and detaching a part such as a chicken wing from 1836.^[2] In 1803 Chateaubriand used se découper for something standing out with clear outlines against a background, and in 1826 Hugo used the transitive verb in the same sense.^[2][5] In 1814 it was also used in botany (feuille découpée) and of an indented coastline or summit.^[2] Metalworking took it up in 1877,^[2] and the cinema in 1917, after the noun découpage.^[2][5]

Timeline

• c. 1150 – Wace has descolper “to cut into pieces”.^[2]
• c. 1268 – Étienne Boileau uses decauper for cutting along a line.^[2][5]
• 1379 – The noun décopure appears.^[5]
• 1497 – Decoppaige, the later découpage, is recorded.^[5]
• 1694 – The Académie records cutting out a picture.^[2]
• 1803 – Chateaubriand uses se découper “to stand out against a background”.^[2][5]
• 1811 – It is used absolutely for carving meat.^[2]
• 1877 – It is used of cutting metal pieces.^[2]
• 1917 – It becomes a film term.^[2][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To cut into pieces, especially to carve meat or poultry at table; used absolutely in couteau à découper and planche à découper.^[7][2][1]
2. To cut along an outline or a drawn line.^[7][3]
3. To cut out a shape or figure, or an article from a newspaper.^[7][8]
4. To divide into areas or zones.^[1]
5. (figurative) To show a sharp outline against a background;^[7][2] se découper sur: to stand out against.^[7][2]
6. (technical) To cut out metal pieces with a press.^[2][8]

Word family

• découpage
• découpe
• découpeur
• découpure
• prédécoupé

Related words

• couper
• coup
• recouper

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v 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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 871b
7. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse