glapir

Forms

glapir^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French glatir (“to bark, to yelp”), inherited from Latin glattiō (“to yelp”), a word of imitative origin, probably altered under the influence of japper.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} Rey says the Latin verb was used especially of young dogs.^[3] Wiktionary calls the reason for the /p/ uncertain.^[1] Littré instead took the word from Germanic, comparing Old English gelpan and English yelp.^[7]

The Latin verb also gave Spanish latir, Portuguese latir and Old Occitan glatir.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1210, in Folque de Candie, it is used of the cries of the Saracen troops.^[2] Its source glatir is found from the Chanson de Roland, where the men of Arguille yelp like dogs.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

It was used at first of animals, then (about 1585) of people with shrill voices, and later of natural sounds, such as the wind (1831).^[3][8] The older glatir survived, from 1690, only for the cry of the eagle.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1100 – Glatir appears in the Chanson de Roland.^[2]
• c. 1210 – First record of glapir, in Folque de Candie.^[2]
• 1538 – The derivative glapissement is recorded, of animals.^[3]
• c. 1585 – Cholières uses it of people.^[8][3]
• 1690 – Glatir is restricted to the eagle.^[3]
• 1831 – Victor Hugo uses it of sounds.^[8][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (of animals) To yelp, to give short, high-pitched cries, as a fox or a puppy does.^[5][2][1]
2. (of people) To shriek, to speak or sing in a shrill, harsh voice; transitively, glapir des ordres.^[5][2]
3. (literary, of things) To make a shrill, harsh noise.^[8][5]

Word family

• glapissement

Related words

• glatir
• japper
• Latin glattiō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert 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. 4, 150a
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse