fuseler

Forms

fuseler^[1]

Etymology

It is a back-formation from French fuselé (“spindle-shaped”): the TLFi derives the participle from Old French fusel, the older form of fuseau (“spindle”), with the suffix -é, and treats the infinitive as remade on it.^[2] The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and the GLLF likewise derive the verb from the participle.^[3][4][5] Wiktionary instead analyses it as the Old French noun with the verb ending -er.^[1] The noun is a diminutive of an unrecorded Old French *fus, from Latin fūsus (“spindle”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The participle came first: fuiselé is found about 1393 in the Ménagier de Paris as a veterinary term, “affected with fusées”.^[2][6] The verb itself, “to give something the shape of a spindle”, is dated 1838 by the TLFi and the Petit Robert.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The participle fuselé “spindle-shaped” passed from veterinary use to heraldry at the end of the 15th century and to architecture, where colonne fuselée is recorded in the Trévoux dictionary of 1704.^[2] The infinitive fuseler followed in the 19th century and entered the Académie's supplement of 1842,^[2][3] where Littré also treats it as a term of architecture: to shape the shaft of a column or a candlestick.^[7]

At the end of the 19th century Huysmans used the reflexive se fuseler “to taper like a spindle”.^[5][2] The verb has stayed rare and is used mostly in the past participle.^[2] The aviation noun fuselage (1908) is derived from fuselé, not from the verb.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 1393 – Fuiselé appears in the Ménagier de Paris as a veterinary term.^[2]
• late 15th century – Fuselé is used in heraldry by Olivier de la Marche.^[2]
• 1704 – The Trévoux dictionary records colonne fuselée.^[2]
• 1838 – First record of the verb fuseler.^[2][4]
• 1842 – It enters the supplement of the Académie's dictionary.^[2][3][5]
• 1891 – Huysmans uses it in Là-bas.^[2]
• 1895 – Huysmans uses the reflexive form in En route.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive, rare) To give something the shape of a spindle, to taper at both ends.^[2][4]
2. (architecture) To shape the shaft of a column or similar piece so that it swells and narrows.^[7][5]
3. (reflexive) Se fuseler: to grow thinner towards the end, like a spindle.^[5][2]

Related words

• fuseau
• fuselé
• fuselage
• Latin fūsus

Usage notes

The verb is mostly used in the past participle fuselé.^[2] The Grand Robert conjugates it like appeler, and Huysmans wrote leurs doigts se fusèlent (1895).^[3][2]

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 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 c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette