match

Forms

match m (plural matches or matchs)^[1] The plural is matchs or, following English, matches.^[2][1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from English match, which had been used of a sporting contest since the 16th century.^[3][4][5][6] The English noun goes back to Old English ġemæcca (“partner, mate”) (about 831), whence “an equal” and “a rival” and then the action of comparing or setting against each other, and so any contest.^[4][3] Rey connects it with a Germanic verb formed with a prefix and the stem of English make.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1819 (in Rey and Gagnon's dictionary of anglicisms), and in 1827 in T. Bryon's Manuel de l'amateur de courses, as a horse-racing term.^[3][7][8] It remained rare until the 1850s and 1860s.^[7][2]

Semantic evolution

The word spread beyond the turf in the second half of the 19th century and became usual towards the end of it, with the growth of sport in France;^[3][5][4] Hugo already uses it in L'Homme qui rit.^[3][5][4] In French it is used only in the sense “contest”, but it applies to far more kinds of contest than in English, beside joute, partie and combat.^[4] Phrases such as match aller, match retour and faire match nul date from the early 20th century.^[8]

The verb matcher “to meet in a match” (1892) and “to play a match” (1893) is now dated.^[4][3] In Canada it has taken from English the senses “to match, pair up” and, reflexively, “to go out together”.^[4] French later took matchmaker (1931), an organiser of boxing matches, and match-play (1914), from golf.^[4]

Timeline

• 1819 – First recorded.^[3][2]
• 1827 – Used of horse racing by T. Bryon.^[3][5]
• Late 19th century – Becomes the usual word for a sporting contest.^[5][4]
• 1892 – The verb matcher.^[3][4]
• Early 20th century – Match aller, match retour, faire match nul.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. A sporting contest between two competitors or teams: un match de tennis, un match de hockey.^[2][3][1]
2. Match aller, match retour: the first and second legs between two teams, faire match nul: to draw.^[8][2]
3. By extension, a game of bridge or chess; figuratively, a contest between rivals, especially in business or politics.^[2]

Word family

• matcher

Related words

• matchmaker
• match-play
• English match

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 18, 83b
7. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse