chou French · revision 15690

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1175, Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence (chous)|origins=la caulis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃu/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''chou''' ''m'' (plural choux)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''chol'', ''chou'' (nominative ''chols'', ''chous''). Plural ''choux'', one of seven nouns in ''-ou'' with plural ''-x''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|chol]], [[inh|la|caulis|t=stem; cabbage]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|2, 535a) which also named stem-shaped objects.^(DHLF 1992) Rey relates it to [[grc|καυλός|tr=kaulós|t=stem]], which Wiktionary gives as cognate or as the source.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873) [[de|Kohl]] and the first part of [[en|cauliflower]] come from the same family.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|cavolo]], [[oc|caul]], [[ca|col]] and [[es|col]].^(Littré 1873)^(REW 1935) The dialects also have “cabus” (Walloon), “jote” (west) and diminutives such as “cholet” (Picard and southern).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence's life of Saint Thomas (about 1175) has ''chous'' for the vegetable.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The cabbage gave proverbs: ''faire ses choux gras'', first “to live well” (15th century), then “to profit” (17th century), and ''aller planter ses choux'' “to retire to the country”.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Many crucifers bear the name: ''chou-fleur'' “cauliflower” (1611, after Italian), ''chou-rave'' (16th century), ''choux de Bruxelles''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ The round cabbage head gave the cream puff, ''chou à la crème'' (1549), and a rosette of ribbon (1694).^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) As a term of endearment, ''mon chou'' is recorded from 1809, and the familiar adjective ''chou'' means “cute”.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – ''Chous''.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 15th century – ''Faire ses choux gras''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1549 – A pastry puff.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1611 – ''Chou-fleur''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1694 – A knot of ribbon.^(TLFi)

+ * 1809 – ''Mon chou'', a term of endearment.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|cabbage]]: ''soupe aux choux'', ''choux de Bruxelles'' “[[m|en|Brussels sprout|alt=Brussels sprouts]]”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A cream [[m|en|puff]]: ''chou à la crème''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(familiar)'' Darling, sweetheart: ''mon chou''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A rosette of ribbon.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(familiar)'' [[m|en|cute|alt=Cute]], sweet.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chou-rave]]

+ * [[chou-fleur]]

+ * [[choucroute]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|caulis]]

+ * [[en|cauliflower]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}