biche French · revision 15677

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1135, bisse|origins=la bēstia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /biʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''biche''' ''f'' (plural biches)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''bisse'' (about 1135, common in the 12th–13th centuries), ''bische'', ''biche'' (about 1155–1160).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The older form “bisse” is [[inh|la-vul|bistia|t=beast]] (6th century), a variant of classical [[la|bēstia]], the source of [[bête]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|1, 340a) The form “biche” is harder to explain.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) It is usually taken for a Norman or Picard variant that spread from Paris;^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989) Rey objects that those dialects also had “bisse” and that the regular outcome of “-sti-” is “-is-” everywhere.^(DHLF 1992) The Grand Robert suggests confusion with the diminutive suffix “-iche” (as in [[pouliche]]);^(Grand Robert 2005) Wiktionary also mentions a link with [[bique]] “nanny goat”, from [[frk|*bik]].^(Wiktionary) The sense “hind” comes from the language of hunting.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ From the same Latin form come [[it|biscia|t=grass snake]] and [[pt|bicho|t=worm, insect]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old French ''bisse'' is found about 1135, and ''biche'' about 1155–1160 for the female of the red deer.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the manuscripts of Chrétien de Troyes ''bisse'' is the usual form until the mid-13th century, when ''biche'' spread in Picard manuscripts and then in the literary language.^(DHLF 1992) The word has kept the sense “female deer”, and in Canadian French it is also the wapiti.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The gentle animal gave the term of endearment ''ma biche'' and ''yeux'' or ''regard de biche'', gentle eyes;^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi) in the 19th century a ''biche'' was also a kept woman.^(GLLF 1989) ''Ventre-de-biche'' is a reddish-white colour, and furniture ''à pieds de biche'' has gently curved legs.^(Petit Robert 2007) The diminutive ''bichette'' is from the 14th century.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th century – Late Latin ''bistia''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1135 – ''Bisse''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * c. 1155–1160 – ''Biche''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * mid-13th century – ''Biche'' becomes general.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 14th century – ''Bichette'' (Froissart).^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|doe]] or [[m|en|hind]], the female deer.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' A term of endearment: ''ma biche''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Canada)'' A [[m|en|wapiti]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Yeux de biche'': large, gentle eyes.^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pied-de-biche]]

+ * [[bichette]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bête]]

+ * [[bique]]

+ * [[la|bēstia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}