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pacane

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Etymology and origin of the French word pacane

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1721 Charlevoix More words from the 18th century
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French pacane
English pecan

Pronunciation

Forms

pacane f (plural pacanes)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from an Algonquian word meaning “nut”,[2][1][3] which the French Wiktionary places in a language of old Louisiana.[4] Related words in Algonquian languages include Miami pakaani (“nut”), Cree ᐸᑳᐣ (pakân, “nut”) and Ojibwe bagaan (“nut”),[4] and Rey also cites Abenaki pagann.[3]

The English word pecan, first recorded in 1712, comes from the French word according to Etymonline;[5] Rey derives it directly from the Algonquian word.[3] French later borrowed it back as pécan.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is in a letter of Charlevoix dated 1721, where the word is masculine;[2] Rey dates it to 1712 in Canada.[3] The feminine is recorded from 1824.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The word first named a kind of black walnut of Louisiana and its fruit.[3] In 1775 a dictionary used it for the tree, which later came to be called pacanier.[7][3]

In France the nut is more often called noix de pécan, and pacane is now dated or regional;[4][8][9] it remains the usual word in Quebec and is used in Louisiana.[3][10]

Timeline

  • 1712 – First record in Canada according to Rey.[3]
  • 1712 – English paccan is recorded.[5]
  • 1721 – Charlevoix uses it, as a masculine noun.[2]
  • 1775 – It names the tree.[7]
  • 1824 – First record as a feminine noun.[2][6]
  • 1839 – Boiste records it, with pacanier.[11][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Canada, Louisiana, or dated) The pecan, the smooth oblong nut of the pacanier, with an edible kernel; also noix de pacane.[2][8][12][10]

Word family

  • pacanier

Usage notes

In Louisiana French tarte aux pacanes is pecan pie, and pacane is also used as a pronoun meaning “nothing”, in pas dire pacane “not to say anything” and pas faire pacane “not to do anything”.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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 Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
  5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  7. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ a b c Base de données lexicographiques panfrancophone (BDLP), Trésor de la langue française au Québec / Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, bdlp.org
  11. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  12. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Pacane.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/pacane. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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