torque

torque¹ roll, twist; heraldic torse

Pronunciation

• /tɔʁk/^[1]

Forms

torque f (plural torques)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the roll or twist is inherited from Old French torke, a northern (Picard) form of torche, inherited from Vulgar Latin *torca.^[2][1][3][4] It is the dialect counterpart of torche in that word's first sense, a bundle of twisted things.^[2][5][6] This is an alteration of torqua, found in Varro, a variant of torquēs (“twisted collar”), from torqueō (“to twist”).^[5][7] The Provençal bread sense may be compared with Occitan touerquo, a cake made for village feasts (1785).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as torke in 1250, in a document from Douai, meaning a bale of cloth, a sense now lost.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The word kept the idea of something soft and twisted.^[5] A coil of iron or brass wire is called torque from the 15th century: the TLFi has 1419, while the GLLF and the TLFi's article on torche give a Tournai document of 1467.^[2][8] In heraldry, from 1690 (Furetière), it is the wreath of twisted cloth in the two main tinctures of the shield, set on the helmet beneath the crest.^[2][5][6]

It has also named chewing tobacco in a roll (1893) and, in literary use at the end of the 19th century, a woman's hair coiled into a crown.^[5][8] In Provence it is a ring-shaped loaf (1876).^[5][2] The derivative torquette meant a small bundle of straw in 1526, and later a wicker basket for fish or game.^[2]

Timeline

• 1250 – Torke “bale of cloth” in a Douai document.^[2][5]
• 1419 – Used for a coil of iron wire.^[2][5]
• 1467 – Torque “wire rolled in a circle” in a Tournai document.^[8]
• 1526 – The diminutive torquette is recorded at Lille.^[2]
• 1690 – Furetière records the heraldic sense.^[2][8]
• 1876 – Larousse records the Provençal ring-shaped loaf.^[2][5]
• 1893 – Used for a roll of chewing tobacco.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (technical) A coil of iron or brass wire bent into a circle.^[2][9][6]
2. (heraldry) A torse: a wreath of twisted cloth in the two main tinctures of the shield, placed on the helmet beneath the crest.^[2][9][6]
3. (regional, Provence) A ring-shaped loaf of bread.^[2]
4. (dated) Chewing tobacco in a roll.^[2][5]
5. (literary) Hair twisted and coiled into a crown.^[8]

Word family

• torquette

torque² necklace

Pronunciation

• /tɔʁk/^[1]

Forms

torque m (plural torques)^[1]

Etymology

The word for the necklace is borrowed from Latin torquēs (“twisted collar, necklace”).^[2][5][6][1] The Latin word meant properly a twist, hence a metal collar or bracelet, and comes from torqueō (“to twist”).^[5][10] The Latin noun is also the source of torche, through a popular variant.^[5][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1210 in the Dolopathos, in a list of precious things: Porpres et torques et onicles (“purple cloths and torques and onyxes”).^[2][11]

Semantic evolution

In Middle French Bersuire's Livy (about 1355) speaks of torquez et armilles d'or, golden torques and bracelets taken from the Gauls.^[12] The word seems to have been little used after the 16th century and was taken up again in the 19th, in 1832.^[2][5] It is now an archaeological term for the Gaulish neck ring, and is also used for a rigid metal necklace worn close to the neck.^[5][10]

Timeline

• c. 1210 – Torques appears in the Dolopathos.^[2][11]
• c. 1355 – Bersuire uses it of the Gauls' golden collars.^[12]
• 15th century – Last records before a long gap.^[2]
• 1832 – Raymond records it again.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (archaeology) A torc: a thick, rigid neck ring of twisted metal, usually ending in knobs, worn by the Celts and awarded as an honour to Roman soldiers.^[2][9][10]
2. A rigid metal necklace worn close to the neck.^[10]