flanquer

Forms

flanquer^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French flanc + -er.^[2][1][3][4] flanc is from Frankish *hlanka (“side of the body”).^[2][4][5]

The familiar sense “to throw, land (a blow)” (1596) is also derived from the noun by the TLFi.^[2] The Grand Robert gives it a headword of its own, derived from the first sense, perhaps crossed with Middle French flaquer (“to throw down suddenly”) (1583), of onomatopoeic origin, and the Petit Robert as either the first verb or an alteration of that verb.^[3][6] Rey thinks it probably a reshaping of that verb (recorded about 1560) under the influence of the noun in its military sense.^[7] Littré too saw the same verb in it, with an inserted nasal, and also compared the English verb fling.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ronsard first uses it in 1555, in fortification, for providing a place with defensive works on its flanks.^[2][7][3]

Semantic evolution

Military use followed in 1564, “to protect an army on its flank”, and architecture in 1568, “to be built at the side of”; by extension it came to mean “to stand close beside”.^[2][7] The Petit Robert also has the rare sense “to accompany”, common in the past participle for someone escorted by companions.^[6]

The familiar verb is first glossed “to throw against someone's flank” by Hulsius in 1596; in 1619 it meant “to plant (kisses)”, and after 1680 “to deal (a blow) roughly”.^[2][9][7] It then spread to “to throw, fling” (1800–1808) and flanquer quelqu'un à la porte “to throw someone out” (before 1850, Balzac), and to “to give” anything unwelcome, used like ficher and foutre.^[2][9][7] The reflexive se flanquer is recorded from 1690.^[2][7]

Timeline

• 1555 – Ronsard uses it in fortification.^[2]
• 1564 – Thierry records the military sense “to protect on the flank”.^[2]
• 1568 – Robert Garnier uses it for “to be built at the side of”.^[2]
• 1596 – Hulsius's French–German dictionary has “to throw against someone's flank”.^[2][9]
• 1619 – The Cabinet satyrique uses it for giving kisses.^[2]
• 1680 – Richelet records “to deal (a blow)”.^[2][9]
• 1690 – Furetière records se flanquer “to place oneself awkwardly”.^[2]
• 1800 – It means “to throw, put” in Aude's Madame Angot.^[2]
• before 1850 – Balzac uses flanquer à la porte.^[9][7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To build additional works or buildings on the sides of, for example On a flanqué le rempart de deux bastions.^[6][8]
2. To stand at the side of a building or of anything, for example Deux tourelles flanquent la façade.^[6][2]
3. (military) To protect a body of troops on its flank.^[6][2]
4. To accompany, usually in the past participle and often slightingly: flanqué de ses acolytes.^[6]
5. (familiar) To fling or throw roughly, for example Il a flanqué ses chaussures dans un coin.^[6][2]
6. (familiar) To deal (a blow) or give (something unwelcome): flanquer une gifle, flanquer la trouille.^[6][10]
7. (familiar) Flanquer quelqu'un à la porte: to throw someone out, to fire an employee.^[9][6]

Word family

• flanqueur
• flanquement

Related words

• flanc
• efflanqué
• flanc-garde

Usage notes

The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert, the TLFi and Littré print two headwords, flanquer 1 “to flank” and flanquer 2 “to fling, land a blow”; the TLFi derives both from flanc, and the Grand Robert takes the second from the first.^[3][6][2][8]

References

1. ^ a b c 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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 16, 211a
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)