Etymologically
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pointe

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 14:01. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pwɛ̃t/[1]

Forms

pointe f (plural pointes)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Late Latin puncta (“a thrust, stab”), recorded in the 4th century, the feminine past participle of pungō (“to prick”) (see poindre) used as a noun.[2][3][4][5][1]

Cognate with Italian punta, Old Occitan poncha, Spanish punta and Portuguese ponta.[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Pèlerinage de Charlemagne (about 1140) uses it for the sharp end of an object; the GLLF cites the Chanson de Guillaume (late 11th century) for the foremost part of an army.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

From the start it also meant, as the noun of poindre, a charge, an attack (about 1155), a sense now lost except in some vestiges: in falconry, the swift rise and fall of a bird; at the riding school, a horse's swerve;[3][2] faire une pointe, to make a detour (1798); and a military thrust deep into enemy ground (1835).[3][2] La pointe du jour “daybreak” (1174–1176) has been displaced by le point du jour.[2][3]

By extension it named any tapering end: a strip of land (1306), the toe of a shoe (1452), the top of a steeple or mountain (about 1460); sur la pointe des pieds “on tiptoe” is from 1669, and dancers' pointes from 1842.[2][3] A sharp pain (1225–1230), a cutting remark (1604) and a witticism or pun (1580, Montaigne) are figurative senses.[2] Concretely it named many pointed things: a graving tool (1538), pointe sèche (1765), a long headless nail (1680), the spines of a hedgehog (1562), a triangular piece of cloth (1520) or scarf.[2][3] Avoir une pointe “to be tipsy” dates from 1867.[8] Modern de pointe “advanced”, as in technologie de pointe, and heure de pointe “rush hour” come from the idea of the most advanced part.[3][1]

Timeline

  • c. 1140 – A sharp end, in the Pèlerinage de Charlemagne.[2]
  • c. 1155 – A charge, attack.[3]
  • 1174–1176 – La puinte del jur “daybreak”.[2]
  • 1306 – A tapering strip of land, in Joinville.[2]
  • 1580 – A witticism, in Montaigne.[2]
  • 1604 – A cutting remark, in Montchrestien.[2]
  • 1669 – Marcher sur la pointe des pieds.[2]
  • 1680 – A headless nail, in Richelet.[2]
  • 1842 – Dancers' pointes.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A point, the sharp end (of a needle, a knife, a nail): pointe d'une aiguille, à la pointe de l'épée, by force.[9][1]
  2. The tapering end of something: la pointe d'un clocher, sur la pointe des pieds, on tiptoe; a headland.[2][3][9]
  3. A pointed tool; a long thin nail with little or no head.[2][1]
  4. (ballet) Faire des pointes: to dance on points.[2][3]
  5. A cutting remark; a witticism.[2]
  6. A touch, a small amount: une pointe d'ail, une pointe d'ironie.[1]
  7. The leading or most advanced part: de pointe, cutting-edge, heure de pointe, rush hour, à la pointe de.[3][1]
  8. (military) A thrust into enemy territory, faire une pointe, to make a detour.[2][3]

Word family

  • pointer
  • pointu
  • épointer
  • pointillé
  • appointer

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 s t u 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 l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
  8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert