taillis

Forms

taillis m (invariable)^[1] Old French tailliz (1216), then taillis (1256).^[2]

Etymology

It is formed from French tailler + -is.^[2][3][4] Wiktionary instead derives it from Old French tailleïz, from Vulgar Latin *taliātīcius.^[1] The verb is from Vulgar Latin *taliō, probably from Latin tālea (“cutting, scion”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as tailliz in a Walloon charter of 1216, for a wood of young trees that is cut at intervals.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Rey notes that the word is now entirely cut off from the verb and names a stand of trees cut back and kept low within a forest.^[6] It was at first also used as an adjective in bois taillis (1538), now a dated synonym.^[2][4] Forestry contrasts it with futaie “high forest”, and taillis sous futaie is a coppice in which some trees are left to grow tall (1872, Littré).^[2][4][7]

Timeline

• 1216 – Tailliz in a Walloon charter.^[2]
• 1256 – The spelling taillis in the charters of the county of Rethel.^[2]
• 1538 – Robert Estienne has bois taillis.^[2][4]
• 1872 – Littré records taillis sous futaie.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A coppice: a wood or part of a forest of small trees that are cut at short intervals and grow again from stumps and suckers.^[7][2]
2. Taillis sous futaie: a coppice in which some trees are kept to grow into timber.^[7][4]

Adjective

1. (dated) Bois taillis: coppice wood.^[7][4]

Related words

• tailler
• taille
• futaie

Usage notes

Littré records the figurative gagner le taillis “to take refuge, get to safety”.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette