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flottaison

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Etymology and origin of the French word flottaison

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1446 Cartulary of the Church of Thérouanne More words from the 15th century
Ultimate origins
Frankish *flot-French -aison
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French flotter
Spanish flotar
French flottaison
From the same root
French flotte ← flotter

Pronunciation

  • /flɔ.tɛ.zɔ̃/[1]
  • /flɔ.te.zɔ̃/[1]

Forms

flottaison f (plural flottaisons)[1] First written flotaison (1446).[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French flotter + -aison.[4][1][2] The TLFi derives the 1446 flotaison “irrigation” from the verb in the sense “to irrigate”, the nautical sense from it in the sense “to float”, and the sense “floating of timber” from its use “to float (wood)”.[4] The verb goes back to the root Frankish *flot-.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest record, in 1446 in the cartulary of the church of Thérouanne, is an isolated use meaning “irrigation”, the diverting of river water into meadows.[4][3][6]

Semantic evolution

The modern word appears as a nautical term in 1691 (Ozanam), for the part of a ship at the surface of the water;[4][3] ligne de flottaison “waterline” is recorded in 1797 (Gattel).[4][3] In 1752 the Dictionnaire de Trévoux records it for the floating of timber down rivers,[4][6] and the TLFi gives a rare, literary use for the act of floating or a floating body.[4] Biology uses it for the ability of an organism to float on water.[7]

Timeline

  • 1446 – Flotaison “irrigation” is recorded.[4][2]
  • 1691 – Ozanam uses it as a nautical term.[4][6]
  • 1752 – The Dictionnaire de Trévoux records the floating of timber.[4][6]
  • 1797 – Gattel records ligne de flottaison.[4][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (nautical) The line where the hull of a floating ship meets the surface of calm water: ligne de flottaison “waterline”, plan de flottaison.[7][4][8]
  2. Flottaison en charge: the highest waterline, when the ship is fully loaded.[7]
  3. (biology) The state of an organism that floats naturally on water.[7]
  4. (rare, literary) The fact of floating; a floating body, especially a train of logs for flottage.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
Cite this entry

“Flottaison.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/flottaison. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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