Etymologically
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hutte

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Pronunciation

Forms

hutte f (plural huttes)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old High German hutta (“hut, cabin”),[2][3][4][5] the source of a family of Germanic words such as English hut[3][1]; Rey thinks it probably named temporary military buildings, and traces it to the root of English hide.[3][1] Bloch and Wartburg hesitate between Old High German and Middle High German hütte;[6] the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert take it from Middle High German, the GLLF from a Frankish *hutta.[7][8][9] Littré links it with Gothic “hethjo” “chamber”.[10]

The word is rare in Old French texts, but place names such as La Hutte and Les Huttes across northern France and in Belgium (from 1272) show that it was long a country word before it entered the literary language.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the 12th-century glosses of Gershom of Metz, hute names a kind of thatched structure that let river water run off into the pastures.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The modern sense, a rough shelter of wood, branches, earth or straw, is first recorded in 1358; in Old French literature such buildings were called loge or feuillée.[2][3] In hunting a hutte is a fixed or portable hide by the water from which wildfowl are shot (1574), whence huttier (1874).[9][3][10] The verb se hutter “to make a hut, lodge” (1594–1635) has gone out of use.[3]

Timeline

  • 12th century – Hute, a structure in pastures (Gershom of Metz).[2][3]
  • 1272 – Huttes as a place name in Belgium.[2]
  • 1358 – A rough shelter or cabin.[2][6]
  • 1574 – A hunter's hide.[9]
  • 1694 – First recorded by the Académie.[2]
  • 1874 – Huttier.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A hut, a rough shelter of wood, earth or straw: hutte de berger.[8][9]
  2. (hunting) A hide by the water for shooting wildfowl.[9][10]
  • cahute
  • cabane
  • English hut

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 16, 276b
  6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  10. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette