fog English · revision 14967
17 Oct 2026, 13:49 by bogdan “en10k b0421: hometown … fog” current version
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+ Fog, long grass, and fog, thick mist, are both probably Scandinavian, but the link between them is not proven.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /fɒɡ/, US /fɑːɡ/, /fɔːɡ/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ {{homograph|1|long grass}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=14th century}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The grass is [[inh|enm|fogge]], probably of Scandinavian origin; compare [[no|fogg|t=long grass in a moist hollow]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021) Watkins, as cited by Etymonline, derives it from a root meaning to rot (see [[foul]]).^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The long grass left standing in the fields in winter: the 14th century in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Hoad notes that the Anglo-Latin fogagium, the right of pasturing on fog, implies the word about 1200.^(Hoad 1986)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The aftermath, the grass that springs up after the hay is cut, is also fog.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) In Scotland and northern England it meant moss (about 1450).^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) Foggage, winter grass or the pasturing of cattle, is from about 1500.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 1200 – fogagium (Anglo-Latin).^(Hoad 1986)
+ * 14th century – fog, long grass.^(OED 1989)
+ * c. 1450 – moss (Scots).^(OED 1989)
+ * c. 1500 – foggage.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A second growth of grass after mowing or grazing; [[aftermath]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)
+ # Tall, decaying grass left standing in winter.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[foggage]]
+
+ {{homograph|2|mist}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=1544}}
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The mist is perhaps a back-formation from [[foggy]], which appeared at about the same time,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) or a Scandinavian word, compare [[da|fog|t=spray, shower, driving rain]] and [[non|fjúk|t=snowstorm]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Hoad calls it of unknown origin,^(Hoad 1986) and Barnhart finds a link with fogge, long grass, hard to make for reasons of meaning.^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Thick mist near the ground: 1544.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The ODWO notes that foggy, misty, is from the late 15th century, so the mist sense may be older than its record.^(Cresswell 2021) ''In a fog'', at a loss, is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) The verb, to envelop in fog, is from 1599,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and to become covered with fog by 1849.^(Etymonline) Fog lights on cars are from 1962.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1544 – fog, mist; foggy.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1599 – to fog (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)
+ * c. 1600 – in a fog.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1849 – to fog up.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1962 – fog lights.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Water droplets in cloud-like masses near the ground, limiting visibility.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # A haze of dust or smoke, or a film clouding a surface such as glass.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # A state of mental confusion or uncertainty.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(photography)'' A blurred area on a negative or print.^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ===Verb===
+ # To cover with fog, or to become covered with it.^(AHD)
+ # To make vague or confused.^(AHD)
+ # To dim a photographic image.^(AHD)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[foggy]]
+ * [[foghorn]]
+ * [[fog lamp]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}