protection

Forms

protection f (plural protections)^[1] Old French protections, proteccions;^[2][3] Anglo-Norman proteccion, protecciun.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin prōtēctiō (“shelter, defence”), a Late Latin and Christian Latin word that also meant the help of God, formed from the supine of Latin prōtegō (“to cover in front, protect”).^{[4][5][6][1][7]}

Cognate with Old Occitan protectio, Spanish protección and Italian protezione.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1200, as protections, in the Old French translation of the Dialogues of Saint Gregory, meaning the act of defending, of protecting.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

In the 13th century it was also used of a person or thing that gives defence or shelter: the Légende de Théophile calls the Virgin proteccions d'umain lignage.^[2][4] In Anglo-Norman it was also a royal document of protection or safe-conduct.^[3]

In the 17th and 18th centuries it came to mean the furthering of someone's interests or career (1633), the favouring of an activity, first in economics (1664, Colbert), and a protective manner (1746).^[4] The phrases se mettre sous la protection de (1690) and prendre qqn sous sa protection (1694) date from this period.^[4][6] The 20th century added many set phrases: protection sociale (1930), protection maternelle et infantile (1933), protection civile (1951), protection rapprochée (1981), and technical senses such as a coating against rust (1932) and protection périodique for sanitary pads.^[4][2] The economic terms protectionnisme and protectionniste were derived in 1845.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – First found in the Dialogues of Saint Gregory.^[2][6]
• 1212 – The first Anglo-Norman record.^[3]
• 13th century – Used of a person or thing that protects.^[2][4]
• 1633 – Used for the furthering of someone's career.^[4]
• 1664 – Colbert uses it in economics.^[4]
• 1694 – The Académie records prendre quelqu'un sous sa protection.^[6][4]
• 1845 – Protectionnisme and protectionniste are derived.^[4]
• 1930 – Protection sociale is recorded.^[2][4]
• 1951 – Protection civile is recorded.^[2][4]
• 1981 – Protection rapprochée appears in Le Monde.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act of protecting someone or something from a danger, or the fact of being protected; defence, shelter: protection civile, protection sociale.^[9][2][1]
2. Sous la protection de: under the safeguard or patronage of: prendre quelqu'un sous sa protection.^[9][8]
3. Support given to someone's interests or career, patronage, and the favouring of an activity.^[8][4]
4. A person or thing that protects, such as the armour of a warship or a pad for the knees.^[9]
5. Protection périodique: a sanitary pad; also a condom or other means of preventing infection or pregnancy.^[9][1]

Word family

• protectionnisme
• protectionniste

Related words

• protecteur
• protectorat
• protéger
• Latin prōtēctiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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 d Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 470a
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert