laminer

Forms

laminer^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin lamina, the source of lame, as a learned derivative formed first with the suffix -é (laminé, 1596) and then with the verb ending -er.^[2][3][4] Rey derives it, through that adjective, from Middle French lamine (“bar of metal”) (14th century), a learned doublet of the same word.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adjective laminé is found in 1596, in a Lille document quoted by Houdoy, meaning “decorated with small strips of metal”.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

From this decorative sense the verb passed to the technical sense “to reduce metal to sheets”, recorded by Trévoux in 1743^[2][3] and by Rey from 1731;^[5] the noun laminoir, the rolling mill, is recorded from 1643, so the verb is probably older in this sense.^[2][5][3] Its object changed with the techniques of metalworking.^[5] In 1893 the verb was used for reducing the thickness of a book to be bound by strong pressure.^[2][6]

The figurative sense “to reduce to nothing”, as of incomes or of a person worn down by troubles, appeared in the 20th century as an outgrowth of the technical senses.^[5][7] The noun laminé, a rolled steel product, is recorded in 1962.^[2]

Timeline

• 1596 – Laminé “decorated with small strips of metal”.^[2]
• 1643 – First record of laminoir.^[3][5]
• 1731 – First record of laminage.^[3]
• 1743 – Trévoux records laminer “to reduce metal to sheets”.^[2][8]
• 1823 – First record of lamineur.^[3]
• 1893 – Used in bookbinding.^[2][6]
• 1962 – Laminé as a noun for a rolled steel product.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To roll (metal) into sheets, strips or thin bars by passing it through a rolling mill: laminer du cuivre.^[7][2][9]
2. (bookbinding) To reduce the thickness of (a book to be bound) by strong pressure.^[7][2]
3. (figurative) To reduce (something) until it almost disappears; to wear (someone) down: laminer les salaires.^[7][2]
4. (figurative, familiar) To crush, thrash (an opponent).^[10][1]

Word family

• laminage
• lamineur
• laminoir

Related words

• lame
• lamé
• Latin lamina

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org