prof

Forms

prof m or f by sense (plural profs)^[1]

Etymology

It is a clipping from French professeur, recorded from 1890 according to Esnault.^[2][3][4] The longer word was taken in 1337 from Latin professor (“one who professes an art, a teacher”), a noun from profiteor (“to declare openly, to profess”), formed of prō (“before”) and fateor (“to admit, to declare”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1890, in school slang, for a teacher.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Born in pupils' slang, it became the ordinary familiar word for a teacher, at school or at university.^[6][2][4] It is used of men and women alike, with the article showing the gender, while professeur long stayed masculine in European French even of a woman.^[4][1][5]

Timeline

• 1337 – Professeur is borrowed from Latin.^[5]
• 1890 – The short form prof is recorded in school slang.^[2][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (familiar) A teacher: Notre prof d'histoire est absent aujourd'hui.^[2][4]
2. (familiar) A university lecturer: Sa mère est prof de fac à Lille.^[4]

Related words

• professeur
• professer
• profession

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e 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 c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse