coterie English · revision 1583

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkəʊtəɹi/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkoʊtəɹi/, /ˌkoʊtəˈɹi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|coterie|t=circle of acquaintances]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) which in Middle French meant an association of tenant farmers,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Old French ''cotier'' “cottager, cotter”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''cote'' “hut”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) The French word is probably of Germanic origin^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) and is related to [[cottage]] and Old English ''cot'' “hut”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A select or exclusive circle in society (1738).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The French word first named a group of peasants holding land together from a feudal lord.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) In English it meant an exclusive social set from the start,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and from 1827 any clique sharing exclusive interests or aims.^(OED 1989) An obsolete sense, an organized association or club, is recorded in 1764.^(OED 1989) Random House also records its use for a group of prairie dogs sharing a burrow.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1738 – an exclusive social circle.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1764 – a club or association, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1805 – a gathering of such a circle.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1827 – a clique with shared interests.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small, often [[exclusive]] group of people who associate closely; a [[clique]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A group of [[prairie dog|alt=prairie dogs]] sharing a burrow.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cottage]]

+ * [[cotter]]

+ * [[cot]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House refers to ''circle'' for a discussion of synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}