nicher

Forms

nicher^[1] Old French nigier (1155), then nichier (late 13th century); nicher from the end of the 15th century.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French nigier, inherited from Vulgar Latin *nīdicō, formed on Latin nīdus (“nest”).^[2][3][5][6] In Gaul this verb replaced nīdificō (“to build a nest”).^[2][3][7] The early form was refashioned as nichier, while niger lives on in the dialects of the Centre and the West.^[3][5][8] Bloch and Wartburg find the verb only in French.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Wace's Roman de Brut (1155) has nigier for birds making their nest.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From “to make a nest” the verb spread to “to lodge” at the end of the 13th century, and the reflexive se nichier “to settle in” appears in the 15th century.^[2][3] The transitive use “to place, to tuck away (a thing or a person)” dates from 1560.^[2][3] The sense “to sit on the nest and brood” is recorded in 1636 (Monet), and the familiar sense “to live, to stay”, of people, from about 1650.^[4][9]

The past participle gave nichée “brood” (1555), applied familiarly to a family's children from 1738,^[3] and the verb gave nichoir “nesting box” (1680) and, jokingly, nichon “breast” (1858), the breasts being tucked in the bodice.^[3][5]

Timeline

• 1155 – Nigier “to make a nest” in Wace's Brut.^[2]
• Late 13th century – The form nichier in a manuscript of the Brut.^[2]
• Late 13th century – Nicier “to lodge” in Huon le Roi.^[2]
• 15th century – Reflexive se nichier “to settle”.^[2]
• 1552 – Se nicher in Ronsard.^[2]
• 1555 – nichée “brood” is recorded.^[3]
• 1560 – Transitive use “to place”, in Jacques Grévin.^[2]
• 1636 – Monet records “to sit on the nest and brood”.^[4]
• c. 1650 – Familiar use of people, “to live”.^[4][9]
• 1858 – nichon is recorded.^[3][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. (intransitive, of birds) To build a nest, to nest; also to sit on the nest and brood: les mésanges nichent dans le vieux mur.^[9][2][1]
2. (intransitive, familiar, of people) To live, to lodge somewhere: il niche chez un ami depuis un mois.^[9][4]
3. (transitive, familiar, dated) To place or tuck something somewhere.^[9][2][8]
4. (reflexive) Se nicher: to make one's nest; to nestle, to settle in a hidden spot: le chalet se niche entre les sapins.^[9][2][1]

Word family

• dénicher
• nicheur
• nichée
• nichon
• niche²
• nichoir

Related words

• nid
• nidifier
• Latin nīdus

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 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 j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
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. 7, 115b
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert