bombe French · revision 15625

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1640, Oudin|origins=la bombus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɔ̃b/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bombe''' ''f'' (plural bombes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|bomba]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) found in Medieval Latin for an incendiary dart (about 1452) and later for an explosive device.^(DHLF 1992) The Italian word is either an independent imitative formation or comes from [[la|bombus|t=booming noise]],^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Académie 9)^(FEW|1, 431a) like [[bombarde]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Oudin's dictionary (1640) has it for a hollow iron ball filled with powder and fired from a mortar, its fuse lit by the charge.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The history of the word follows that of artillery: the mortar shell, then the bomb dropped from aircraft, then any explosive device.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) ''Bombe atomique'' appeared in 1945, followed by the ''bombe H'' and the neutron bomb.^(DHLF 1992) ''Tomber comme une bombe'' “to arrive out of the blue” is used by Mme de Sévigné in 1689.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ Round shapes gave the ''bombe glacée'', an ice-cream dessert frozen in a domed mould,^(Wiktionary) a riding helmet,^(Larousse)^(BHVF) and the aerosol can.^(Wiktionary)^(Larousse) In familiar French ''une bombe'' is a strikingly attractive person.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1452 – Medieval Latin ''bomba'', an incendiary dart.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1640 – French ''bombe'' (Oudin).^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1689 – ''Tomber comme une bombe''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1701 – The verb ''bomber'' “to make convex”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1945 – ''Bombe atomique''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|bomb]], an explosive device or projectile: ''bombe à retardement'' “time bomb”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|aerosol]] can, a spray.^(Wiktionary)^(Larousse)

+ # A domed ice-cream dessert, ''bombe glacée''.^(Wiktionary)

+ # A hard riding [[m|en|helmet]].^(Larousse)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A very attractive person; a [[m|en|bombshell]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bomber]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bombarde]]

+ * [[la|bombus]]

+ * [[en|bomb]]

+ * [[en|bombe]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A second ''bombe'', in familiar ''faire la bombe'' “to go on a spree”, is a shortening of [[bombance]] “feasting” (1881).^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Académie 9)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}