merlu

Forms

merlu m (plural merlus)^[1] Also written merlus; first mellus (1333), then merlus (about 1393) and merlu (about 1560, Paré).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

Its origin is disputed.^[2][3] The TLFi and the DHLF tentatively take it as a blend of merlan and Old French luz (“pike”), also lus, which came from Late Latin lucius.^[2][3][5][6] Wartburg's FEW instead suggests a borrowing from Old Occitan merlus, recorded from the middle of the 13th century, but the origin of the Occitan word is then left unexplained, since merlan is found in Occitan only in modern times.^[2][3][7] The GLLF and Larousse take that line, deriving the Occitan word from a crossing of merle (Late Latin merulus) with the Old French name of the pike,^[4][8] and Wiktionary derives the Occitan word from Latin merula.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as mellus in a text of 1333, naming the hake; the Ménagier de Paris (about 1393) has both merlus and mellus.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word has always named the same fish, and is mostly used in the southern half of France, especially the south-west, and by zoologists; in the fish trade, and in Paris, the hake is sold as colin.^[3][2][4]

The variant merluche (1603, earlier morlusse in 1589) is used mainly for cod or a related fish dried but not salted, and merlusse, taken from Occitan, has meant cod in Montpellier since 1802.^[3]

Timeline

• 1333 – First recorded as mellus.^[2][3]
• c. 1393 – The Ménagier de Paris writes merlus and mellus.^[2]
• c. 1560 – Paré writes merlu.^[4]
• 1589 – The variant morlusse appears, followed by merluche in 1603.^[3]
• 1805 – Cuvier uses merlus for the fish he calls gadus merluccius.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The hake, an edible sea fish related to the cod, with two dorsal fins and one anal fin.^[6][8][2]
2. (regional) The same fish sold as colin.^[9][3]

Related words

• merlan
• merluche
• merle

Usage notes

The dictionaries allow both spellings, merlu and merlus.^[2][5]

References

1. ^ a b 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 e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 5, 436a
8. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)