pelvis

Forms

pelvis m (invariable)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin pelvis (“basin, bowl, cauldron”), first recorded as an anatomical term in 1666.^[2][3][4][5] The DHLF dates the borrowing to 1688 instead.^[6] Rey compares the Latin word with a Sanskrit word for a vessel and perhaps with a Greek word for a cup, and notes that a link with Latin pellis (“skin”), which some propose, is hard to square with its ⟨-ll-⟩.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A report in the Journal des savants of 23 May 1666 speaks of the cavity that is called the pelvis.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word remained rare before 1845, when Bescherelle recorded it.^[3][4] It names the anatomical cavity that is commonly called the bassin, and in particular the part of it below the superior strait.^[6][2] It is represented by the combining form pelvi- in medical terms such as pelvimètre (1814) and pelvipéritonite (1878).^[6]

Timeline

• 1666 – First recorded in the Journal des savants.^[2][3]
• 1805 – The adjective pelvien appears.^[6]
• 1814 – Pelvimètre is recorded.^[6]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records the word, rare until then.^[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (anatomy) The pelvis, a synonym of bassin.^[2][7]
2. (anatomy) Specifically, the part of the pelvis below the superior strait, the lesser pelvis (petit bassin).^[2][8][4]

Word family

• pelvien
• pelvimètre
• pelvigraphie

Related words

• Latin pelvis

References

1. ^ a b 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, 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. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
8. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)