protectionnisme

Forms

protectionnisme m (plural protectionnismes)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French protection + -isme.^{[2][3][4][5][1]} The base noun, recorded from the 12th century, is from Latin protectiō, from prōtegō (“to cover in front, protect”);^[3] it had been a term of political economy since 1664.^[3]

The English counterpart protectionism is roughly contemporary: the TLFi and the DHLF date it to 1852,^[2][6] Etymonline to 1846.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1845 by Bescherelle, together with protectionniste.^[2][6][3]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept its sense in political economy: a doctrine, or a system, of measures restricting or forbidding foreign goods so as to shield national production from foreign competition.^[2][8] Littré defines it simply as a system of commercial protection.^[9] Its opposite is libre-échange.^[10][8][11] By analogy it is also used of other kinds of protection from outside competition, as in an intellectual protectionism.^[2]

Timeline

• 12th century – Protection is borrowed from Latin.^[3]
• 1664 – Protection becomes a term of political economy.^[3]
• 1845 – Bescherelle records protectionnisme and protectionniste.^[2][6][3]
• 1846 – English protectionism is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. (economics) protectionism, an economic policy that shields a country's economy from foreign competition by customs duties, quotas, standards and similar measures.^{[10][12][11][5]}
2. The doctrine that advocates such a policy.^[10][2]
3. (by analogy) Protection of any field from outside competition, as in intellectual matters.^[2]

Related words

• protectionniste
• protection
• protéger
• Latin prōtegō
• English protectionism

Usage notes

Jaurès's saying le protectionnisme, c'est le socialisme des riches is quoted by the Petit Robert.^[10]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e f g Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
12. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)