timber English · revision 10471

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 750|origins=gem-pro *timrą|origins=ine-pro *dem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtɪmbə/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|timber|t=building, structure; building material]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Proto-Germanic *temran,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) source also of Old Norse timbr and German [[m|de|Zimmer|t=room]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) according to Watkins from PIE *deme-, to build, possibly a form of *dem-, house, household,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of Greek dómos and Latin domus.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A building, structure, house: before 750; only Old English.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Building material, trees suitable for building, is from Alfred's writings (before 899).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Growing trees and woods in general are from late Old English.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The pieces of wood composing a ship's frame are from 1748, as in ''shiver my timbers''.^(Etymonline) Slang ''timber-toes'', a man with a wooden leg, is by 1785.^(Etymonline) The verb, Old English timbran, was the chief word for to build, now obsolete in this sense;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) to furnish with timber is from the 1570s.^(Etymonline) As a call warning that a cut tree is about to fall, it is from 1912, in Canadian English.^(Etymonline) The ''timber wolf'' is from 1846.^(Etymonline) Potential material for a post, as ''presidential timber'', is figurative.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 750 – a building.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 899 – building material.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1570s – to furnish with timber (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1748 – a ship's timbers.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1846 – timber wolf.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1912 – timber! (warning cry).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Wood prepared for use in building; lumber.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Trees or wooded land as a source of wood.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A beam or piece of wood in a structure, or a rib of a ship.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Suitable material for a role or position: ''managerial timber''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To support or frame with timbers.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # A warning shout that a felled tree is about to fall.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[timberless]]

+ * [[timbery]]

+ * [[sawtimber]]

+ * [[timberhead]]

+ * [[timberman]]

+ * [[timberwork]]

+ * [[half-timbered]]

+ * [[timbered]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lumber]]

+ * [[domestic]]

+ * [[domicile]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}