jilt English · revision 1400

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /d͡ʒɪlt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from an earlier noun ''jilt'' “harlot” (1672),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) probably a contraction of ''jillet'' or ''gillot'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a diminutive of ''gille'' “girl, wench”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) originally a short form of the name ''Gillian''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[Jill]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to be false or faithless to a lover, to cast off one lover for another (1673).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The general sense “to cheat, trick” is recorded from 1660.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun first meant a loose woman (1672)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and then a woman who encourages a lover and then casts him off (1674).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) It was rarely applied to men.^(OED 1989) The verb's sense has stayed the same.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – ''gille'', a woman or girl.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1557 – ''gillot''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1660 – to cheat or trick.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1672 – noun, a harlot.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1673 – verb, to cast off a lover.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1674 – noun, a woman who jilts a lover.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To drop or reject a lover suddenly or callously.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person, especially a woman, who discards a lover.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[jilter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[jillet]]

+ * [[Jill]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}