gourmet English · revision 1340

11 Oct 2026, 06:03 by bogdan “New entry from dictionary sources” current version
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈɡʊəmeɪ/, /ˈɡɔːmeɪ/ ''(UK)''; /ɡʊɹˈmeɪ/, /ˈɡʊɹmeɪ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|fr|gourmet]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) an alteration of Old French ''groume'' or ''gromet'' “wine merchant's servant, wine-taster”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) influenced by ''gourmand'' “glutton”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The Old French word, in the 13th century “a lad”,^(Etymonline) is of uncertain origin,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) perhaps from Middle English ''grom'' “boy, servant”, the source of [[groom]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ A connoisseur of fine food and drink (1820).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The servant who tasted wine for a merchant gave his name to the expert in fine eating.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) As an adjective, describing fine food and its preparation, the word dates from 1900 or 1904.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Wiktionary notes that marketing use has somewhat cheapened the adjective.^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 13th century – Old French ''groume'', a lad.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1820 – a connoisseur of food and drink.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)
+ * 1900 – adjective.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1904 – attributive use, in the OED.^(OED 1989)
+ 
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[connoisseur]] of fine food and drink; an [[epicure]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A connoisseur in any field.^(MW Collegiate)
+ 
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Of or for gourmets, especially using fine ingredients and skilled preparation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[gourmand]]
+ * [[groom]]
+ * [[epicure]]
+ 
+ ==Usage notes==
+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that a ''gourmet'' and a ''gourmand'' both have discriminating taste, but a ''gourmand'' may also simply enjoy large quantities of food, and an ''epicure'' may suggest excessive refinement.^(AHD) Random House gives ''gastronome'' and ''bon vivant'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}