pote

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɔt/^[1]

Forms

pote m or f by sense (plural potes)^[1]

Etymology

It is a clipping of poteau in its slang sense “friend, mate”.^[2][3][4][1] Rey records that noun for a friend once in 1400, in a letter of remission, and then again in convicts' slang before 1873 as potot.^[5] That noun, meaning “post”, is a derivative of Old French post (“upright timber”), from Latin postis (“doorpost”); the figurative use rests on the idea of a support (1259).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1898, in the slang of Paris hoodlums according to Esnault.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

In the 20th century the word spread into general familiar speech;^[2][4] Sartre (1949) has mon petit pote.^[2][4] It is used as an adjective, être pote avec “to be pals with” (1946), and as a feminine noun for a girlfriend in the sense of a pal.^[2] The anti-racist slogan Touche pas à mon pote dates from 1985.^[4]

Timeline

• 1400 – Poteau “friend” in a letter of remission (isolated).^[5]
• 1898 – Pote in hoodlums' slang.^[2]
• 1946 – Adjectival pote avec and the feminine noun une pote.^[2]
• 1985 – The slogan Touche pas à mon pote.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (familiar) A mate, buddy, friend: c'est un vieux pote.^[4][1]
2. (familiar, feminine) A female friend, a pal.^[2]

Adjective

1. (familiar) Être pote avec: to be pals with.^[2]

Usage notes

An older, separate adjective pote survives only in main pote, a hand swollen or numb with cold and clumsy (1606, Nicot; in the 13th century main pote meant the left hand).^[2][6] It is probably the Old French noun pote, poe “paw” used as an adjective, of disputed origin (see patte), and is the source of potelé.^[2][3][6]

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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse