tison

Forms

tison m (plural tisons)^[1] Old French tisun;^[2][3] Anglo-Norman also tisoun, tizun and tysun.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French tisun, inherited from Latin tītiōnem (“burning piece of wood, firebrand”).^[4][5][6][7] The Latin word is recorded from Varro, and Lactantius calls it a popular word.^[7][4]

Cognate with Italian tizzone, Old Occitan tizo, Catalan tió and Spanish tizón.^[6][8][1][9]

Earliest recorded meaning

Marie de France's Fables (about 1180) has tisun meaning a firebrand.^[4][2] About 1190 a sermon of Saint Bernard uses tisons for plain pieces of wood.^[10][8]

Semantic evolution

Until the 16th century the word meant a piece of wood, probably firewood, while keeping the Latin sense “firebrand”, which is still current.^[7] In the plural it stood for the hearth fire (about 1460, Villon's Lais), as in old phrases such as demeurer aux tisons (1556); the proverb opposing Noël au balcon to Pâques au tison is still known.^[7][4]

Figuratively it was what kindles a passion (late 13th century), surviving in literary phrases: tison d'enfer (1526) for one who deserves to burn in hell, and tison de discorde (1798, tison de la discorde in Racine, 1673), later replaced by brandon de discorde.^[7][4][10] Joinville used tyson for a ship's keel.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 1180 – Tisun “firebrand” in Marie de France's Fables.^[4]
• late 13th century – Figurative use for what kindles a passion.^[4][7]
• 1456 – Villon's Lais uses tyson for the hearth.^[4]
• 1526 – Menot's sermons have tison d'enfer.^[4]
• 1673 – Racine writes tison de la discorde.^[7][10]
• 1923 – Larousse records the storm match called tison.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A firebrand, an ember: the part of a log or piece of wood left after the rest has burnt: Il tisonnait les derniers tisons du foyer.^[2][4][1]
2. Allumette-tison, or tison: a large match that keeps burning in the wind.^[10]
3. (figurative, dated) What stirs up a passion or quarrel: tison de discorde, and tison d'enfer for a wicked person.^[10][7]

Word family

• tisonner
• tisonnier

Related words

• attiser
• Latin tītiō

Usage notes

The proverb Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison (also aux tisons) says that a mild Christmas brings a cold Easter.^[2][4][7]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 13/1, 356a
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
10. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse