quille

quille¹ skittle

Pronunciation

• /kij/^[1]

Forms

quille f (plural quilles)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the skittle is borrowed from Old High German kegil (“peg, stake”), adapted to French.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The TLFi gives the immediate source as borrowed from Middle High German kegel, already used of the skittle.^[7][1] The German word goes back to Proto-Germanic *kagila, a diminutive of a noun seen in Swabian and Bavarian Kag (“cabbage stalk”).^[2] Compare the modern German Kegel.^[3][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1288, as a term of games, in Jean de Journi's Dîme de pénitence.^[7]

Semantic evolution

Taken with the German sense of a wooden piece knocked down in a game, it entered phrases such as comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles “at the wrong moment, unwelcome” (La Fontaine, 1665).^[2][5][7] The plural les quilles names the game; in Quebec jouer aux quilles is also used for bowling.^[2]

From Middle French, by likeness of shape, it was a familiar word for the leg (1455, in the trial of the Coquillards), which survives in trousser ses quilles (15th century) and jouer des quilles “to run off” (1846).^[7][2] Later uses include a trimming along a dress seam (1746), a slim tall bottle (1867), and the prop at the back of a two-wheeled cart (1866).^[7][2] In military slang it has meant the end of military service since 1936, perhaps from quille “leg” and the flight in jouer des quilles, though the link is obscure.^[2][7]

Timeline

• 1288 – First recorded as a term of games.^[7]
• 1330 – The derivative quiller appears.^[4][2]
• 1455 – It means “leg” in the trial of the Coquillards.^[7]
• 1665 – La Fontaine uses comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles.^[5][2]
• 1746 – La Morlière uses it for a trimming along a dress seam.^[7][9]
• 1846 – Jouer des quilles “to run away” is recorded.^[7][2]
• 1867 – Gautier uses it for a slim, tall bottle.^[7]
• 1936 – Military slang uses it for the end of service.^[7][2][5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A skittle, a turned piece of wood set upright to be knocked down with a ball;^[10][7][11] les quilles, the game of ninepins.^[10][7][11]
2. Comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles: at the worst moment, unwelcome.^[7][5]
3. (familiar) A leg: jouer des quilles, to run off.^[11][7]
4. (military slang) The end of military service, demob.^[11][10][1]
5. (slang) Release from prison.^[10][11]
6. A slim, tall bottle, used especially for Rhine wines.^[7][2]
7. (juggling) A club.^[1]

Word family

• quiller
• quillier
• quillon
• quillette
• quilleur
• quillard

quille² keel

Pronunciation

• /kij/^[1]

Forms

quille f (plural quilles)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the keel is probably borrowed from Old Norse kilir, the plural of kjǫlr (“keel”); the plural is explained by the several timbers that have to be joined to make a keel.^{[4][2][3][10][12]} The Norse word goes back to Proto-Germanic *keluz.^[2][1]

Bloch and Wartburg derive English keel (from 1352) from the same Norse word, and think Dutch kiel and German Kiel, recorded only from the 16th century, came from English; they keep them apart from Middle Dutch kiel, Old High German kiol and Old Norse kjóll, which named a kind of large ship.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is recorded in 1382 as a shipbuilding term, the long timber along the bottom of a hull.^[4][3][2]

Semantic evolution

It was taken with the Norse sense, the long piece at the bottom of a ship's hull on which the frame is built, and by metonymy it also names the ballast fixed to the keel.^[2][3] Amyot in the 16th century writes of the quilles et carenes of ships.^[8] The derivative contre-quille (1677) names the timber that doubles the keel, and quillard (20th century) a keelboat as opposed to a dinghy.^[2]

Timeline

• 1352 – English keel is recorded.^[4]
• 1382 – First record of quille “keel”.^[4][3]
• 16th century – Amyot writes of the quilles et carenes of the Cretan ships.^[8]
• 1677 – Contre-quille appears.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (nautical) The keel, the lengthwise timber at the bottom of a ship, from étrave to étambot, on which the frame rests.^[10][3][13]
2. (nautical) The ballast fixed to the keel of a sailing boat: un voilier à quille.^[3][10][2]

Word family

• quillard