globule

Forms

globule m (plural globules)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin globulus (“small ball”), a diminutive of globus (“globe”).^[2][3][4][5] Bloch and Wartburg note that it was borrowed for scientific senses.^[4] By surface analysis it is globe with the suffix -ule.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Pascal's Pensées (before 1662) for a tiny spherical body;^[2][3][6] Pascal writes that heat is nothing but the movement of some globules.^[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

From the Latin sense “tiny sphere” the word became a term of physiology in 1742, naming a more or less round element suspended in some body fluids, especially the blood.^[3][7] Globule rouge is recorded in the Encyclopédie in 1765 and globule blanc in 1770; embryology added globule polaire in 1875.^[3][2] In pharmacy it has named a very small pill since 1834.^[3][8]

The derivative globuleux (1571) replaced the older globeux, and globulaire is recorded from 1679.^[3] English globule was taken from the French word in the 1660s.^[9]

Timeline

• before 1662 – Pascal uses it in the Pensées.^[2][3]
• 1742 – First used in physiology.^[3][7]
• 1765 – Globules rouges appears in the Encyclopédie.^[2][3]
• 1770 – Globule blanc is recorded.^[3]
• 1834 – It names a small pill.^[3]
• 1875 – Globule polaire is used in embryology.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) A very small spherical body, a tiny drop or bubble.^[7][2][6]
2. (physiology) A small round element suspended in some body fluids, especially a blood cell: globule rouge (an erythrocyte), globule blanc (a leukocyte).^[7][1]
3. (pharmacy) A very small pill.^[8][3]

Word family

• globuleux
• globulaire

Related words

• globe
• Latin globulus
• English globule

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 k l m n Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com