Etymologically
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zet

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Pronunciation

Forms

zet m (plural zetten, diminutive zetje n)[1]

Etymology

It is a noun of action from the verb zetten “to set, place, put”, as the WNT, Franck and Van Wijk, and the ANW explain.[2][3][4][1] Kiliaan's dictionary of 1599 does not list it in the modern sense, but Middle Dutch may already have had ⟨set⟩ in a few technical meanings, such as the quantity of beer tapped at one time.[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The WNT's oldest quotation, of 1539, uses setten for nets placed across a river to catch eels, a Frisian sense.[2] The sense “sudden push, quick movement” follows in 1611, in met een set, “all at once, at one go”.[2]

Semantic evolution

From the 17th century zet was used of any quick, forceful action, in phrases such as met één zet “suddenly, at once” and metter zet “in a hurry”.[2] Figuratively it became a sharp, cutting remark, a dig: a writer of 1784 speaks of Satirique zetten.[2]

In chess and draughts zet is a move of a piece: een zet doen is recorded in 1792, and aan zet zijn, “to have the move”, in 1811.[2] From the game it passed to a calculated step in other affairs, a clever or cunning move, and to a witty saying.[2][5] The diminutive zetje is a small push, also figuratively, as in iemand een zetje geven, to help someone along.[5]

Indonesian has sét for a chess move, and Sranan Tongo sèt for a move in chess or draughts.[6]

Timeline

  • 1539 – Setten are fishing nets set across a stream.[2]
  • 1611 – Met een set “all at once”, the sense “push, quick movement”.[2]
  • 1784 – Satirique zetten “satirical digs”.[2]
  • 1792 – Een zet doen, a move in chess.[2]
  • 1811 – Aan zet zijn “to have the move”.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. a push, shove: Met een flinke zet kreeg ze de kast van zijn plaats.[5][1]
  2. a move of a piece in chess, draughts or another board game: Wit won in twintig zetten.[5][1][2]
  3. an action or statement meant to gain an advantage, a move: Die overname was een slimme zet.[5][2]

Word family

  • zetje
  • meesterzet
  • tegenzet
  • foutzet

Usage notes

Aan zet zijn is to have the move, also figuratively, to be the one who must act.[5] Herhaling van zetten, “repetition of moves”, is a chess position repeated three times, which ends in a draw, and figuratively a dispute in which the same arguments keep coming back.[5] A separate West Flemish zet “backside, buttocks”, going back to Old Dutch setti “settlement” and related to zitten, is recorded since 1500 and still shows in zetpil “suppository”.[2][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 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 Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  3. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  4. ^ Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  6. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  7. ^ Debrabandere, Frans (2002), West-Vlaams etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van de West-Vlaamse woorden, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Atlas