guérite

Forms

guérite f (plural guérites)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French garite, recorded about 1220, with the spelling ⟨guérite⟩ from about 1360.^[2][3][1] It is probably from Old French garrette (“sentry box”) (about 1200) with its suffix changed to ⟨-ite⟩, the base being derived from garir (“to protect”), the old form of guérir; the model was fuite beside fuir.^[3][2][4] The FEW files it under Frankish *warjan.^[5] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert allow a borrowing from Old Occitan garida (“shelter on the ramparts”) (about 1219), which has the same origin.^[6][7][2] Corominas's explanation from ⟨gari te⟩ “save yourself!” is rejected by the FEW and the TLFi, as no such formation is known.^[3]

Compare the Old Occitan cry a la guerida “run for your life!” and Spanish garita.^[3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gautier de Coinci uses it about 1220 in the cry a la garite! “run for your life!”, and in 1223 as guarite “protective work”, figuratively of the Virgin Mary.^[3][2][8]

Semantic evolution

From the 14th century guérite kept only the sense of a shelter for a sentinelle.^[2] The idea of protection gave the sense “refuge”, now out of use;^[2][9] Littré still records the phrase gagner la guérite “to run away”.^[2][9] Littré also gives a lookout turret on top of a building.^[9] The word later named a hooded seat, usually of wicker, sheltering from sun or wind (1907), a small hut sheltering a worker (1930), and jokingly a confessional (1889).^[2][8][10]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – The base garrette is recorded.^[3][2]
• c. 1220 – A la garite! “run for your life!”.^[3][8]
• 1223 – Guarite “protective work”.^[3][2]
• c. 1360 – The spelling guérite, in Froissart.^[8][2]
• 1889 – Jokingly, a confessional.^[2]
• 1907 – A hooded seat sheltering from the wind.^[8][2]
• 1930 – A hut for a worker, in Larousse.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A sentry box, a small shelter for a sentinelle on duty.^[7][3][8]
2. A small hut sheltering a worker on a building site, or serving as an office.^[7][8]
3. (dated) A hooded seat, often of wicker, sheltering from sun and wind.^[8][10]

Related words

• guérir
• Old Occitan garida

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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 17, 526b
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF