bore English · revision 15125

+ English has three words spelled bore: to drill, from Old English; a tidal wave, probably from Old Norse; and to weary, of unknown origin.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /bɔː/, US /bɔːr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|drill}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=ine-pro *bher-}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ To drill is [[inh|enm|boren]], [[inh|ang|borian|t=to bore through, perforate]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|ang|bor|t=auger]],^(Etymonline) from [[gem-pro|*burōn]],^(Barnhart 1988) cognate with [[goh|borōn]] (modern [[de|bohren]]) and [[non|bora]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) and related through [[ine-pro|*bher-|t=to cut]] to [[la|forō|t=to bore]] and [[m|la|feriō|t=to strike]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The verb: about 1000;^(Barnhart 1988) the noun, an auger, is Old English bor, from before 800.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A hole made by boring is from about 1320,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) the cylindrical cavity of a gun or tube from 1572, and its inner diameter, the calibre, from 1583.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) A deep narrow hole bored into the earth is from 1674.^(OED 1989) In Scots a ''blue bore'' was a gap in the clouds showing blue sky (1775).^(OED 1989) Slang ''full bore'', at top speed, is from 1936, from an unchoked carburettor.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 800 – bor, an auger.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – to bore (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1320 – a hole bored.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1572 – the bore of a gun.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1674 – a borehole.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1936 – full bore.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a hole in or through something, as with a [[drill]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To form a tunnel, shaft or well by drilling or digging.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To advance steadily or laboriously.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A hole or passage made by boring.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The hollow of a gun barrel or tube, or its inner diameter; [[calibre]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A [[borehole]].^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[borehole]]

+ * [[borer]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|tidal wave}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1601|origins=non bára}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The wave is probably from an unrecorded [[m|enm|*bore|t=wave]], [[bor|non|bára|t=wave, billow]].^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Middle English a bore was any billow or wave; the modern sense dates from the early 17th century,^(Cresswell 2021) 1601 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the dialects of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Somerset the bore is the tidal wave of rivers such as the Severn and the Parrett.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1601 – a tidal bore.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A high, often dangerous wave caused by a flood tide surging up a narrowing [[estuary]].^(AHD)

+

+ {{homograph|3|weary}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=1766}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ To weary is of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) Merriam-Webster suggests an alteration of obsolete bourd, to jest, from [[frm|bourder]].^(MWU 2024) Barnhart finds no evidence that it is a figurative use of the drilling bore, of persistent drilling or of “being in a deep hole”, as in the early phrase in a long bore.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a fit of boredom or ennui, suggested to be a French malady: 1766.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The verb is from 1768.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A tiresome person or thing is from 1778 in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) Hoad dates the tiresome thing to the 18th century and the tiresome person to the 19th.^(Hoad 1986) Boredom is from 1852, in Dickens's Bleak House.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1766 – a fit of ennui.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1768 – to bore (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1778 – a tiresome person or thing.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1852 – boredom.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To weary by being dull or tedious.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A dull, tiresome person or thing.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[boredom]]

+ * [[boring]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perforate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Bore is also the past tense of [[bear]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}