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passe

Etymology and origin of the French word passe

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Back-formation
First attested
1368
Inherited from
Latin *passo

Pronunciation

Forms

passe f (plural passes)[1]

Etymology

It is a back-formation from passer,[2][3][4][5] which is inherited from Vulgar Latin *passāre, from passus (“step, pace”).[4]

The slang sense “a prostitute's brief encounter with a client” is compared by the TLFi with the fencing “passe” and the old phrase “faire une passe au collet”.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1368, in the accounts of the Nord, for a passage where traps were set for otters;[2] in 1383 it was the target in a game played with javelins.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In games of mall and billiards the passe was the arch or opening through which the ball had to go (Cotgrave, 1611), hence être en passe de “to be well placed to” (Scarron, 1648) and être dans une bonne, mauvaise passe “to go through a good, bad patch”.[2][4] In hunting it named the passage of birds (about 1375), in fencing a thrust with a step forward (1669), and in sailing a navigable channel (1691).[2][6]

The 19th century added mot de passe “password” and maison de passe “house of assignation” (both 1828–1829; the latter in 1821),[2][7] and in criminals' slang la passe was the guillotine.[2] In sports a passe is a pass of the ball.[1]

Timeline

  • 1368 – “Passage” in the Nord accounts.[2]
  • 1383 – The target in a javelin game.[2]
  • c. 1375 – The passage of birds, in hunting.[2]
  • 1611 – The arch in games of mall, in Cotgrave.[2]
  • 1648 – Être en passe de in Scarron.[2]
  • 1669 – A fencing term.[2]
  • 1821 – Maison de passe.[7]
  • 1828–1829 – Mot de passe in Vidocq.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (sports) A pass of the ball: faire une passe.[1][8]
  2. A situation or period: une mauvaise passe, être en passe de: to be on the way to.[8][2]
  3. A narrow navigable passage, a channel; a mountain pass.[8]
  4. (fencing) A thrust made while stepping forward.[6][2]
  5. (slang) A prostitute's trick, maison de passe: a brothel.[1][7]
  6. Mot de passe: a password.[2][3]
  • passer
  • passage
  • impasse
  • English pass

Usage notes

Passe is also a dated name for small birds such as the dunnock (passe buissonnière), from Latin passer (“sparrow”).[9][3][6] A masculine passe is the familiar clipping of passe-partout (1850).[10][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 743b
  6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  10. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Passe.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/passe. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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