gaffe French · revision 15603

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1393|origins=pro gafar}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡaf/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''gaffe''' ''f'' (plural gaffes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|pro|gaf|t=hook, pole]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007) from [[m|pro|gafar|t=to seize]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005) Bloch and Wartburg trace the Occitan verb, also found as [[es|gafar]] and [[pt|gafar]], to [[got|*gaffōn|t=to seize]];^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) Wiktionary instead gives Gothic [[m|got|𐌲𐌰𐍆𐌰𐌷|tr=gafah|t=clasp]].^(Wiktionary) Guiraud proposed instead Old Occitan ''gafar'' “to ford, wade”, which would explain both the pole for crossing a ford and the blundering of someone wading in mud.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

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+ The sense “blunder” (1872) comes from the verb [[gaffer]] in the sense “to commit an indelicacy”, which Bloch and Wartburg think grew up in boatmen's speech.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first recorded in 1393, and in 1455 a document describes “a stick called a ''gaffe'', with an iron hook at the end”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The boathook sense has stayed in nautical and fishing use, including a hook for landing large fish.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873) Sailors' slang had ''avaler sa gaffe'' “to swallow one's boathook”, that is, to die.^(Littré 1873)^(BHVF)

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+ The familiar sense “clumsy, tactless act or remark” appears in 1872, from ''gaffer'' “to blunder”, with ''gaffeur'' following in 1888.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989) Separately, slang ''gaffer'' “to keep watch” (1829) gave ''faire gaffe'' “to watch out” (1926).^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1393 – First record of the word.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1455 – A ''gaffe'' is described as a staff with an iron hook.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+ * 1687 – The verb ''gaffer'' “to hook with a gaffe”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1872 – ''Gaffe'' “blunder” is recorded.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1926 – ''Faire gaffe'' “to be careful”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(familiar)'' A [[m|en|blunder]], a tactless or ill-timed act or remark.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''(nautical)'' A [[m|en|boathook]], a pole with a hook and point used to handle a boat.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(fishing)'' A [[m|en|gaff]] for landing large fish.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Faire gaffe'' ''(familiar)'': to watch out, be careful.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|gaffe]]

+ * [[en|gaff]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Faire gaffe'' “to watch out” and slang ''un gaffe'' “prison warder” come from ''gaffer'' “to keep watch”;^(DHLF 1992) Rey links this ''gaffer'' to an older slang ''gaffre'' “sergeant” and [[de|gaffen|t=to gape]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}