fisher English · revision 10467

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 893|origins=ang fiscere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɪʃə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈfɪʃɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English fissher, [[inh|ang|fiscere|t=fisherman; kingfisher]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) an agent noun from the verb [[fish]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) with similar formations in Old Norse fiskari, Dutch visser and German [[m|de|Fischer]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One whose work is catching fish: about 893.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figurative use, after ''fishers of men'' in Matthew iv. 19, is from about 1000.^(OED 1989) An animal that catches fish is from 1562,^(OED 1989) and since the word began to be used of animals, [[fisherman]] (1520s) arose.^(Etymonline) A fishmonger (before 1400) is obsolete.^(OED 1989) The North American marten, the pekan, is from 1796,^(OED 1989) and a fishing boat from 1864.^(OED 1989) Fisher is now archaic for a person, replaced by fisherman.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 893 – a fisherman.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1000 – a fisher of men.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1520s – fisherman.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1562 – a fishing animal.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1796 – the pekan.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(archaic)'' A person who fishes; a [[fisherman]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An animal that catches fish.^(OED 1989)

+ # A dark-brown marten of northern North America, or its fur; the pekan.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fisherfolk]]

+ * [[fisherman]]

+ * [[fisherwoman]]

+ * [[fishery]]

+ * [[kingfisher]]

+ * [[Fisher King]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[piscatory]]

+ * [[piscatorial]]

+ * [[fish]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Devon, a fisher was a sweet of apples baked in batter, named after a Bishop of Exeter, and in Somerset the heron.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}