gong

Forms

gong m (plural gongs)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Malay gung, more precisely from Javanese gong.^[2][3][4][5] Bloch and Wartburg, the Petit Robert, Larousse and the Académie simply call it Malay.^[6][7][8][9] Etymonline takes the Malay word to be probably imitative of the sound of the instrument.^[10]

It was first written ⟨cong⟩ (1681), and the present spelling ⟨gong⟩ appears in 1701.^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as cong in La Loubère's account of the kingdom of Siam (dated 1681 by the TLFi, 1691 by Bloch and Wartburg, the GLLF and the Petit Robert), naming a sounding metal plate struck with a padded stick as a musical instrument or a call.^{[2][6][11][7]}

Semantic evolution

Until the early 19th century the word was used only of the countries of the Far East.^[3][6] By extension it then named a similar instrument used to give a signal, at sea from 1899 (a use now gone),^[3][2] or in a house to announce a meal.^[11][9] In boxing (1910) the gong marks the start and end of each round, whence coup de gong and the figurative être sauvé par le gong “to escape something unpleasant at the last moment”.^[3][7][9]

Timeline

• 1681 – Cong appears in La Loubère's work on Siam.^[2][3]
• 1701 – The spelling gong is used in the French translation of Dampier's voyage round the world.^[2][4]
• 1878 – The Académie admits the word.^[12]
• 1899 – It names a signalling gong at sea.^[2][3]
• 1910 – It is used in boxing.^[3][7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A percussion instrument of the Far East, a suspended disc of bronze or copper struck with a padded stick.^[7][2][8]
2. A similar instrument used to give a signal: le gong annonça le dîner.^[7][9][11]
3. (boxing) The bell that marks the start and the end of each round: coup de gong, être sauvé par le gong.^[7][9][8]
4. A Balinese instrumental ensemble.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 20, 95b
6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b c d e Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
10. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
11. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
12. ^ Hatzfeld, Adolphe; Darmesteter, Arsène; Thomas, Antoine (1890–1900), Dictionnaire général de la langue française du commencement du XVIIe siècle jusqu'à nos jours, Paris: Delagrave