limonade

Forms

limonade f (plural limonades)^[1] First spelled limonnade (1640); limonade is recorded from 1650.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French limon + -ade, the noun meaning “lime, a kind of lemon”.^[2][1][4] The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and the DHLF think it may have been formed after Spanish limonada (the DHLF also names Italian limonata); the GLLF and Larousse take it directly from one of these words.^{[5][6][7][3][8]}

Limon in this sense (1314) comes from the Arabo-Persian name of the fruit, brought back from the East by the Crusaders;^[9] Wiktionary has it from Italian limone.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1640 Oudin's Italian–French dictionary has limonnade for a refreshing drink made from lemon or lime juice.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Until the 19th century the word meant a drink of water, sugar and lemon juice, also used in medicine to help digestion or as a drink for the sick; this drink is now called citronnade, though the old sense lives on in Quebec, Louisiana and Haiti.^[2][7][6] In modern France it is a sweet, colourless fizzy drink that need not contain any lemon, most often drunk mixed with beer.^[7][6]

From 1867 it also named, by metonymy, the trade of those who sell drinks, that is, café owners.^[2][7] The slang être dans la limonade “to be destitute” is recorded in 1879.^[2] English lemonade (1650s) was adapted from the French word.^[10]

Timeline

• 1640 – Oudin records limonnade.^[2]
• 1650 – Ménage writes limonade.^[2][3]
• 1650s – English takes it as lemonade.^[10]
• 1666 – The derivative limonadier appears.^[7]
• 1867 – It is used for the trade of café owners.^[2][7]
• 1879 – Être dans la limonade “to be destitute” is recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A sweet, lightly lemon-flavoured fizzy drink, a soda: une bouteille de limonade.^[6][8][11]
2. (dated, Quebec) Lemonade made of water, lemon juice and sugar, now usually called citronnade.^[6][8][2]
3. (trade) The business of café owners, and the drinks service of waiters as opposed to the restaurant service.^[6][8][11]

Word family

• limonadier
• limonaderie

Related words

• limon
• citronnade

Usage notes

Limonade is written with a single ⟨n⟩, unlike citronnade.^[8]

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 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
11. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)