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préhensile

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Etymology and origin of the French word préhensile

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1753 Buffon More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin prehendō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French préhensile
English prehensile

Pronunciation

  • /pʁe.ɑ̃.sil/[1]

Forms

préhensile (plural préhensiles)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French préhension + -ile according to the Grand Robert and Petit Robert;[2][3] the TLFi and the DHLF describe it as a learned derivative of Latin prehēnsum (“seized”), the supine of prehendō (“to seize”), with the same suffix.[4][5][6][1] Buffon coined it; the TLFi and DHLF date his use to 1758, the Grand Robert and GLLF to 1753.[4][5][2][6]

Picoche places it in the family of prendre and préhension.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Buffon uses it in his Histoire naturelle of quadrupeds for an organ that is able to seize.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

The word has stayed a term of natural history, used of an animal organ or of part of a plant that can take hold of something, as in queue préhensile.[5][4] Cuvier wrote of mammals with a prehensile tail in 1805.[4] The near synonym préhenseur (adjective from 1842) tends to give way to it.[5] The GLLF dates pince préhensile, the claw of crabs and crayfish, to the Larousse of 1903.[6]

English prehensile (1771) was borrowed from Buffon's word.[8]

Timeline

  • 1753 – Date the Grand Robert and GLLF give for Buffon's use.[2][6]
  • 1758 – Buffon uses it in the Histoire naturelle of quadrupeds.[4][5]
  • 1771 – English borrows it as prehensile.[8]
  • 1805 – Cuvier writes of mammals with a queue préhensile.[4]
  • 1903 – The Larousse records pince préhensile.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (zoology, botany) prehensile, able to grasp or seize: queue préhensile, pince préhensile.[3][4][6][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
  5. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Picoche, Jacqueline (1991), Dictionnaire étymologique du français, Paris: Le Robert (Les Usuels du Robert)
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
Cite this entry

“Préhensile.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/pr%C3%A9hensile. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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