zigzag

Forms

zigzag m (plural zigzags)^[1] Older spellings include zic zac (before 1532), zig-zag (1662), ziguezague (1673) and ziczac (1694).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is an expressive formation built on an imitative base zik-, which suggests a quick movement.^[3][4][5] The change of vowel from ⟨i⟩ to ⟨a⟩ with the same consonants paints a movement going back and forth, as in tic-tac.^[6][5] Rey ties it to a base ⟨z-g⟩, ⟨z-k⟩ also seen in zigouiller.^[2]

Littré compared Walloon zikzac and German Zickzack and took the word as an imitative formation of the German family of Zacke (“point, prong”); he also reported Sédillot's idea that it came from Arabic tables of astronomy.^[7] Etymonline says the French word is perhaps from the German word, which is however recorded only from 1703.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Raymond Poisson's comedy Le Zig-Zag (1662) uses it for a contraption of jointed pieces set in lozenges, which could be stretched out or folded back at will.^[3][6][9] Rey records an earlier form zic zac before 1532.^[2]

Semantic evolution

From the device the word passed to the shape: en forme de ziguezague “in a broken line” is found in 1673, and en ziczac (later en zigzag) is recorded by the Académie in 1694.^[2][3] In 1718 the Académie has faire des ziczacs of a drunkard who staggers from side to side;^[3] the phrase was said of things from 1866.^[2]

The general sense, a line of angles that point in and out by turns, is recorded in 1764,^[3][2] and in the plural the word named a broken-line ornament in architecture from the 1830s.^[3][2] Figuratively it was used before 1772 by Rousseau of a winding course of conduct,^[3][5] and Rey adds the sense of a person's changes of opinion.^[2] In 1768 it also became the name of a moth whose caterpillar strips the leaves of trees.^[2][3]

The verb zigzaguer followed in 1786.^[2] English zigzag was taken from French in 1712, first for the layout of garden paths.^[8]

Timeline

• before 1532 – The form zic zac is recorded.^[2]
• 1662 – Le Zig-Zag, a comedy by Poisson, names a jointed contraption.^[3][6]
• 1673 – En forme de ziguezague “in a broken line” appears.^[2]
• 1694 – The Académie records en ziczac.^[3][2]
• 1712 – English borrows the word.^[8]
• 1718 – Faire des ziczacs is said of a staggering drunkard.^[3][9]
• 1764 – Charles Bonnet uses it for a line of alternating angles.^[3]
• 1768 – Valmont de Bomare uses it as the name of a moth.^[3][2]
• before 1772 – Rousseau uses it figuratively of a winding course.^[3][5]
• 1786 – The verb zigzaguer is first recorded.^[2]
• 1834 – It names a broken-line ornament.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A zigzag: a broken line whose segments form angles pointing alternately outwards and inwards: Le sentier monte en zigzag jusqu'au col.^[10][3][11]
2. A course or movement that keeps changing direction, as of a drunk walking or a winding road: faire des zigzags.^[3][11]
3. (figurative) A winding course in a person's life or opinions.^[11][2]
4. (architecture) In the plural, an ornament made of broken lines.^[3][11]
5. (dated) A device of jointed rods set in lozenges that can be stretched out or folded back.^[7][3]
6. (zoology) A moth whose caterpillar eats the leaves of various trees.^[2][3]

Word family

• zigzaguer
• zigzagant

References

1. ^ a b 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 r Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t 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
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 14, 662b
5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)