Etymologically
Log in

silhouette

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 17:17. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /si.lwɛt/[1]
  • IPA: /si.lu.ɛt/[1]

Forms

silhouette f (plural silhouettes)[1]

Etymology

It is named after Étienne de Silhouette (1709–1767), controller-general of finances from March to November 1759.[2][3][4][5] His economy measures made him unpopular and mocked in songs, and the phrase “à la silhouette” was coined in derision in 1759 for things made cheaply or left unfinished.[3][4][5] It has also been said that Silhouette himself liked to trace such profiles at his château;[2] Rey calls this unproven.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is the phrase à la silhouette (1759), which seems to have meant things done “on the cheap”, sketchily.[3][5] By 1763 portraits à la silhouette were profile drawings traced from the shadow cast by a face.[2]

Semantic evolution

Rousseau wrote of a profil à la silhouette in 1765, and the noun silhouette alone is found from 1788 for such a shadow portrait, often cut out of black paper and mounted on a light ground.[3][6][2] In the 19th century the word widened to any dark shape standing out against a light background (Hugo in 1840, Chateaubriand before 1841),[3][2] then to the general outline of a human figure (Maupassant, 1888).[2][6]

Later specialised uses are the silhouette de tir, a figure used as a shooting target (1904), and, in film and theatre, a small speaking part above the extras (1925).[2][3]

Timeline

  • 1759 – À la silhouette is coined during Silhouette's ministry.[3][5]
  • 1763 – Portraits à la silhouette, profiles traced from a shadow.[2]
  • 1765 – Rousseau writes of a profil à la silhouette.[3][6]
  • 1788 – Silhouette is used alone as a noun.[2][5]
  • 1840 – Hugo uses it for a dark shape seen against a light ground.[2]
  • 1888 – Maupassant uses it for a person's figure.[2]
  • 1904 – Silhouette de tir, a target figure.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A shape or outline seen dark against a lighter background.[7][8]
  2. The general outline or figure of a person.[8][9]
  3. (art, dated) A profile portrait traced from a shadow or cut from black paper.[7][9]
  4. A drawing with simplified outlines, such as a shooting target.[9][2]
  5. (film, theatre) A small part, a walk-on with a few lines.[8][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, 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
  7. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)