zest

Forms

zest m (plural zests)^[1] Also spelled zeste.^[2][3] The variant zist is used in the phrase entre le zist et le zest.^[2][4]

Etymology

It is onomatopoeic, from a stem ⟨zek-⟩ that took the form ⟨zest⟩ at the end of the 16th century.^[2][5][3] The stem expressed a sharp noise and a quick movement, and, figuratively, a thing of no value, as in zeste.^[2][5] Bloch and Wartburg also call it an onomatopoeia.^[6] According to the TLFi, a quick movement made this way and that gave the idea of hesitation behind the phrase with zist.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cotgrave records it in 1611 as a sound imitating a blow or a jolt.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

In the 17th century the interjection, often written zeste, expressed the uselessness of an effort (1638), refusal or mockery (1640), and disbelief or contempt (1668).^[5][2] From 1692 it also marked the speed of an action, and zest! in this use is found again in 1808.^[2][5]

The noun is used in phrases built with zist: faire zist et zeste “to wave a weapon this way and that” (1682), entre le zist et le zest “neither good nor bad” (1718) and être entre le zist et le zest “to be unable to decide” (1835); the last two are still in use.^[5][2] Under English influence zest was also used for “gusto, liveliness”, as in Queneau in 1944.^[7]

Timeline

• 1611 – Cotgrave records zest as the noise of a blow.^[2]
• 1640 – Oudin records it as an interjection of denial or mockery.^[2]
• 1647 – Scarron uses it in Jodelet duelliste for a parried blow.^[2]
• 1682 – Faire zist et zeste “to wave a weapon about” appears.^[5]
• 1692 – Dancourt uses zeste to mark promptness.^[2]
• 1718 – The Académie records être entre le zist et le zest “to be neither good nor bad”.^[2]
• 1835 – Être entre le zist et le zest is used for indecision.^[5]
• 1944 – Queneau uses it for “gusto”, after English.^[7]

Meanings

Interjection

1. (dated, familiar) Marks the swiftness of an action: Zest! le voilà parti.^[2][8][4]
2. (dated, familiar) Brushes aside what someone says, in refusal or mockery.^[2][4][8]

Noun

1. Entre le zist et le zest: neither good nor bad, hard to judge, or undecided (of a person).^[2][8][4]
2. A spelling of zeste, the outer peel of a citrus fruit.^[1][5]

Related words

• zeste
• zist
• zigzag

Usage notes

The Petit Robert treats the interjection zest and the noun zeste “peel” as homonyms, while the DHLF describes them as one word that developed from the same onomatopoeic stem.^[8][5]

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 o p q 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert