Etymologically
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ramasser

Etymology and origin of the French word ramasser

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1213, Faits des Romains
Ultimate origin
Latin (massa)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ʁa.ma.se/[1]
  • IPA: /ʁa.mɑ.se/[1]

Forms

ramasser[1]

Etymology

It is formed from re- and amasser (“to amass”),[2][3][4][5][1][6] itself a derivative of masse.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Faits des Romains (about 1213) have ramasser grant gent “to gather a large force”, of troops.[7][2][4]

Semantic evolution

The reflexive “to gather together” is in Robert Estienne (1538), and d'Aubigné (1616) writes of soldiers who se ramassoyent ten by ten to break through.[7][5] In the late 13th century it is used for collecting scattered things, and, from 1580 (Montaigne) for collecting in small amounts, ramassé “compact, thick-set” is also in Montaigne.[7][2][5] Ramasser fines is recorded in 1535.[7]

The sense “to pick up from the ground” appears in Ronsard (1549) and Amyot (1559), who has Ismenias drop his ring and stoop pour le ramasser;[7][5] Ménage (1672) condemned that use and preferred amasser.[7][5] Familiar senses followed: to round up offenders (Mercier, 1785), se faire ramasser “to get arrested” (1867), and ramasser une bûche “to take a fall” (1895).[7]

Timeline

  • c. 1213 – “To gather troops”, Faits des Romains.[7]
  • Late 13th century – “To collect what is scattered”.[7]
  • 1538 – Reflexive “to gather”, Robert Estienne.[7]
  • 1549 – “To pick up from the ground”, Ronsard.[7]
  • 1672 – Ménage condemns that sense.[7]
  • 1785 – “To round up”, Mercier.[7]
  • 1867 – Se faire ramasser “to be arrested”.[7]
  • 1895 – Ramasser une bûche “to fall”.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To pick up from the ground.[1][3]
  2. To collect, gather what is scattered: ramasser du foin.[3][1]
  3. To draw together into a mass: ramasser ses cheveux en chignon; to condense a style.[3]
  4. Ramasser ses forces: to summon up all one's strength.[3]
  5. (familiar) To arrest, round up, se faire ramasser, to get nabbed, ramasser une bûche, to come a cropper.[7][4]
  6. Se ramasser: to crouch, huddle up, (familiar) to fall, to fail.[1][7]

Word family

  • ramassage
  • ramasseur
  • ramassis
  • ramasse

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 6/1, 448a
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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
Cite this entry

“Ramasser.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/ramasser. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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