couper French · revision 15819

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=early 12th century, Lois de Guillaume|origins=grc κόλαφος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ku.pe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''couper'''^(Wiktionary)

+ [[fro|colper]], [[m|fro|coper]].^(Wiktionary)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[coup]] (Old French [[m|fro|colp]], [[m|fro|cop]]) with the verb ending [[-er]], properly “to divide with a blow”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|2, 869a) The noun “coup” is from popular Latin [[la-vul|colpus]] (Salic Law), from [[la|colaphus|t=blow with the fist]], from [[grc|κόλαφος|tr=kólaphos|t=slap]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary allows that the verb may continue a [[la-vul|*colpō|alt=*colpāre]], comparing Old Spanish “golpar”, and rejects a derivation from [[m|la|caput]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Bloch and Wartburg explain its success by the need for a verb “to cut”, [[la|secō]] having become specialised in sense.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Lois de Guillaume'' (first half of the 12th century) have ''Si ço avent que alquen colpe le poin à altre u le pied'' “if it happens that someone cuts off another's hand or foot”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ''Charroi de Nîmes'' (mid-12th century) has ''coper borses'' “to cut purses”, and the early 13th century ''coper vergiers'' “to cut down orchards”.^(TLFi) Joinville writes of ''coper le pont'' “to cut the bridge”, whence ''couper la voie'' “to bar the road” in Froissart.^(TLFi) ''Couper court'' is in Chastellain (before 1475), and ''se couper'' “to contradict oneself” in Baïf (1567) and Montaigne.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) Olivier Basselin (15th century) uses it for diluting wine.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Other senses came later: to cut the cards (1606), to tailor a garment (1679), to castrate an animal (1678), ''couper l'herbe sous les pieds à qqn'' (Cotgrave, 1611) and the familiar ''ne pas y couper'' “not to escape it” (1861).^(TLFi)^(BHVF) The verb has formed many compounds, such as ''coupe-gorge'' (13th century), ''coupe-jarret'' (1584) and ''coupe-papier'' (1869).^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 12th century – ''Colpe le poin'' in the ''Lois de Guillaume''.^(TLFi)

+ * Mid-12th century – ''Coper borses'' in the ''Charroi de Nîmes''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1300 – ''Coper le pont'' in Joinville.^(TLFi)

+ * 15th century – “To dilute (wine)” in Basselin.^(TLFi)

+ * 1567 – ''Se couper'' “to contradict oneself”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1606 – Cutting the cards.^(TLFi)

+ * 1861 – ''Couper à'' “to dodge”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|cut]], cut up, slice: ''couper du pain'', ''couper les cheveux''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To cut off, interrupt, stop: ''couper l'eau'', ''couper la parole à qqn'', ''couper court à'': to cut short.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To bar, block: ''couper la route''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To cross, intersect; to take a short cut: ''couper à travers champs''.^(Wiktionary)^(Larousse)

+ # To dilute (a drink): ''couper du vin''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(cards)'' To cut (the pack).^(BHVF)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Couper à'': to get out of, ''ne pas y couper'': to be unable to avoid it.^(Larousse)^(BHVF)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To cut oneself, ''(dated)'' to contradict oneself.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[à-coup]]

+ * [[contrecoup]]

+ * [[coupe-bourse]]

+ * [[coupe-choux]]

+ * [[coupe-circuit]]

+ * [[coupe-coupe]]

+ * [[coupe-feu]]

+ * [[coupe-file]]

+ * [[coupe-gorge]]

+ * [[coupe-jarret]]

+ * [[coupe-papier]]

+ * [[coupe]]

+ * [[coupure]]

+ * [[découper]]

+ * [[recouper]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[coup]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}