grimper

Forms

grimper^[1]

Etymology

It is probably a nasalized form of gripper “to climb” (early 14th century), perhaps influenced by ramper, which is close to it in meaning and use.^{[2][3][4][5][6][1]} That verb comes from Frankish *grīpan (“to seize”).^[7][6] Derivation from Proto-Germanic *krimpan (“to cling, contract”) has been proposed, but Bloch and Wartburg and Rey reject it because the French verb appears so late.^[4][3] Littré noted the old derivation from Old High German klimban and German klimmen (“to climb”), and preferred a word for “to seize” because ⟨griper⟩ and ⟨grimper⟩ were used interchangeably.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1495–1496, in an edition of Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial, meaning “to climb using the hands and feet”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In 1538 Robert Estienne uses it of ivy climbing up walls, and Ronsard has lierre grimpant.^[2][8] Figuratively it meant rising in society (1669, Bossuet), and transitively grimper quelque chose “to climb up” (1609, Régnier); from 1680 it was used of any effortful climb to a high place.^[2][3] In popular speech it was used in 1831 for possessing a woman sexually.^[3] The infinitive used as a noun, le grimper, named climbing in Cuvier (1805) and a gymnastic exercise on a rope from 1902.^[2][9]

Timeline

• 1495–1496 – First record, in Jean de Vignay's Miroir historial.^[2]
• 1538 – Of a climbing plant, in Robert Estienne.^[2]
• 1555 – The derived grimpereau, a bird.^[4]
• 1596 – Grimpeur.^[4]
• 1609 – Transitive use, in Régnier.^[2]
• 1669 – “To rise in society”, in Bossuet.^[2]
• 1805 – Le grimper, in Cuvier.^[2]
• 1922 – Grimpette, a short steep climb.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To climb using the hands and feet: grimper à un arbre, grimper à la corde.^[10][1]
2. Of plants: to grow up a wall or support.^[10][8]
3. To climb with effort to a high place; of a road, to climb steeply.^[10][2]
4. (transitive) To climb: grimper l'escalier.^[2][3]
5. (figurative) To rise quickly: les prix ont grimpé; to rise in society.^[10][3]
6. (familiar) Grimper aux rideaux: to be carried away with pleasure.^[10]

Noun

1. Le grimper: rope-climbing as a gymnastic exercise.^[10][9]

Word family

• grimpeur
• grimpant
• grimpette
• grimpée
• grimpereau
• regrimper

Related words

• gripper
• ramper

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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e 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 Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 16, 76a
7. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert