tonlieu

Forms

tonlieu m (plural tonlieux)^[1] Old French tolneu (about 1150), tonliu (1159), tonleu (1168) and tonlieu (1273).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French tonliu, inherited from Late Latin telōnēum (“tax office, toll”), which became tolōnēum by assimilation; the ⟨Appendix Probi⟩ condemns the spelling ⟨tolonium⟩.^[2][1][5] The Latin word is from Ancient Greek τελωνεῖον (telōneîon, “custom house”),^[1][6][2] from τελώνης (telṓnēs, “tax farmer”), formed from τέλος (télos, “tax”) and ὠνέομαι (ōnéomai, “to buy”).^[6][4] The later forms in ⟨-leu⟩ and ⟨-lieu⟩ show the influence of lieu¹ and lieue.^[7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, tolneu in Wace's Vie de saint Nicolas (about 1150), is the office where tolls were collected.^[2][7][4]

Semantic evolution

By 1159 tonliu meant the duty itself, a toll on goods carried through a place,^[2][7] as in Jean Bodel's Saisnes (about 1200): Se li devons chevage, costume ne tonliu “if we owe him poll tax, custom or toll”.^[2][6] It was also the fee merchants paid for their stalls at markets and fairs.^[8][6] Current in Old and Middle French, the word survives as a term of feudal history.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1150 – Wace uses tolneu for a toll office.^[2]
• 1159 – A royal charter has tonliu for a toll on goods.^[2][9]
• 1168 – The form tonleu is recorded.^[3][4]
• c. 1200 – Jean Bodel's Saisnes names tonliu among dues.^[2][6]
• 1273 – The spelling tonlieu appears.^[3][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (feudal law) A toll levied on goods carried by land or water, at bridges, gates and the like; also droit de tonlieu.^[9][2][4]
2. (feudal law) A fee paid by merchants for a stall at a market or fair.^[9][2][1]

Related words

• Ancient Greek τελωνεῖον (telōneîon)

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 13/1, 165b
6. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert