embrouiller

Forms

embrouiller^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French en- + brouiller.^[2][3][4][1] An earlier participle embrouillie (“soiled”) is found in Eustache Deschamps.^[2] Rey derives the simple verb from Vulgar Latin *brodiculō, a Gallo-Roman verb formed on *brodicō, which is inferred from a Bergamasque verb meaning to soil, and ultimately on a Germanic word for broth (see brouet),^[5][1] Wiktionary's Proto-Germanic *bruþą (“stock, broth”).^[1] Bloch and Wartburg instead derive it in French from brou (“mud, froth”) with the ending of verbs such as fouiller and souiller, which Rey rejects.^[6][5][7]

Cognate with Spanish embrollar and Italian imbrogliare.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The FEW dates it to the 13th century;^[2][6] the first dated record is procès embroillez “entangled lawsuits” in the journal of Nicolas de Baye (1410).^[2]

Semantic evolution

The verb works as an intensive of brouiller, meaning to make confused or complicated, concretely (threads, a skein) and more often in the abstract.^[5][2] By 1573 it was said of the mind, a memory embrouillée being a muddled one,^[2][5] and in 1644 Corneille used it of confusing a person.^[4] The familiar ni vu ni connu, je t'embrouille, said of a trick that leaves no explanation, is recorded in 1808.^[5][4]

English embroil was borrowed from it about 1600.^[9]

Timeline

• 13th century – First records, according to the FEW.^[2]
• 1410 – Procès embroillez in Nicolas de Baye's journal.^[2]
• 1546 – The noun embrouillement appears.^[5]
• Before 1573 – Jodelle uses it of a confused memory.^[2]
• c. 1600 – English borrows it as embroil.^[9]
• 1644 – Corneille uses it of confusing a person.^[4]
• 1747 – The noun embrouille appears.^[5]
• 1808 – Ni vu ni connu, je t'embrouille is recorded.^[5][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To tangle, mix up (threads, cords): embrouiller une pelote de laine.^[10][2][1]
2. (figurative) To make obscure or complicated: embrouiller une explication.^[10][4]
3. To confuse someone, make them lose the thread of their thoughts.^[10][4]
4. (reflexive) S'embrouiller: to get muddled, make mistakes.^[10][1]
5. (familiar) To trick or bamboozle;^[1][4] ni vu ni connu, je t'embrouille.^[1][4]
6. (slang) To get into a fight.^[1]

Word family

• embrouillamini
• embrouille
• embrouillement

Related words

• brouiller
• débrouiller
• imbroglio
• English embroil

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 15/1, 297a
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert