jarretière

Forms

jarretière f (plural jarretières)^[1] Middle French jartiere (1360) and the masculine jarretier;^[2][3][4] the Anglo-Norman masculine gareter (late 13th century) survives in the Norman and Picard dialects.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French jarret + -ière.^[2][1][5] Bloch and Wartburg trace jarret to Gaulish *garra (“leg”), reconstructed from Welsh garr and Breton gâr.^[4]

The English word garter was borrowed from the Anglo-Norman masculine form.^[2][3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The masculine gareter is found in Anglo-Norman at the end of the 13th century, in Walter of Bibbesworth.^[2][3] The feminine jartiere appears in 1360 in an inventory of the Duke of Anjou, which lists une jartiere of blue silk set with gold, pearls and diamonds.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Since 1360 the word has named the band, worn by men and women, that holds up a stocking above or below the knee.^[3][2] The bride's garter, la jarretière de la mariée, taken from her by the young men at a wedding, is recorded from 1784 (Beaumarchais).^[8][7]

The English Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1347–1349, was known in France by the end of the 14th century: Froissart calls its members chevaliers dou Bleu Gartier.^[2][3] Chevaliers de la jartiere is recorded in Nicot (1606).^[2][3] By analogy the word later named a cord or line in technical and nautical use and a long, ribbon-like fish (1845),^[3][9] and in telecommunications a patch cord.^[10]

Timeline

• late 13th century – Anglo-Norman gareter in Walter of Bibbesworth.^[2]
• 1360 – Jartiere in the Duke of Anjou's inventory.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – Froissart writes of the chevaliers dou Bleu Gartier.^[2][3]
• 1606 – Nicot records chevaliers de la jartiere.^[2]
• 1784 – La jarretière de la mariée in Beaumarchais.^[8]
• 1845 – It names a ribbon-like fish.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A garter, an elastic band or ribbon that holds up a stocking above or below the knee.^[10][2]
2. La jarretière de la mariée: the bride's garter, traditionally taken from her and auctioned among the wedding guests.^[10][8]
3. (history) Ordre de la Jarretière: the Order of the Garter, the English order of knighthood.^[10][2]
4. (sailing, plural) Lines along the head of a sail, ending in a loop at one end.^[10]
5. (telecommunications) A patch cord that makes a connection in a cabling system.^[10]

Word family

• jarreter

Related words

• jarret
• English garter

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c 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. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert