keeper English · revision 10487

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1300|origins=en keep}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkiː.pə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkiː.pɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English keper, an agent noun from [[keep]] with the suffix [[-er]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who has charge of a person or thing, a guardian or warden: before 1300 in the OED, about 1300 in Etymonline, and the late 13th century as a surname.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Special titles such as Keeper of the Mint are from 1423,^(OED 1989) a forest officer or gamekeeper from 1488–89,^(OED 1989) and a nurse from about 1450.^(OED 1989) One who carries on a business, as a shopkeeper, is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) ''Am I my brother's keeper?'' is from Genesis iv. 9.^(Etymonline) In cricket a wicketkeeper is a keeper from 1744,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in football a goalkeeper from 1957.^(OED 1989) Something worth keeping, first a fish large enough to keep, is attested by 1950.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – a guardian.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1423 – Keeper of the Mint.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – a shopkeeper.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1744 – a wicketkeeper.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1950 – something worth keeping.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1957 – a goalkeeper.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who has charge of something, such as animals in a zoo, a museum collection or prisoners.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[goalkeeper]], [[wicketkeeper]] or [[gamekeeper]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing worth keeping, such as a fish large enough to be legally caught.^(AHD)

+ # A device, such as a clip, that keeps something in place.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[keeperless]]

+ * [[keepership]]

+ * [[barkeeper]]

+ * [[beekeeper]]

+ * [[bookkeeper]]

+ * [[casekeeper]]

+ * [[crowkeeper]]

+ * [[doorkeeper]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[keep]]

+ * [[goalkeeper]]

+ * [[shopkeeper]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In older Scots and English dialect, a keeper was the catch of a clasp.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}