passe French · revision 15849

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=1368}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pas/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /pɑs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''passe''' ''f'' (plural passes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a back-formation from [[passer]],^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|7, 743b) which is [[inh|la-vul|*passō|alt=*passāre]], from [[m|la|passus|t=step, pace]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ The slang sense “a prostitute's brief encounter with a client” is compared by the TLFi with the fencing “passe” and the old phrase “faire une passe au collet”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in 1368, in the accounts of the Nord, for a passage where traps were set for otters;^(TLFi) in 1383 it was the target in a game played with javelins.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In games of mall and billiards the ''passe'' was the arch or opening through which the ball had to go (Cotgrave, 1611), hence ''être en passe de'' “to be well placed to” (Scarron, 1648) and ''être dans une bonne, mauvaise passe'' “to go through a good, bad patch”.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) In hunting it named the passage of birds (about 1375), in fencing a thrust with a step forward (1669), and in sailing a navigable channel (1691).^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ The 19th century added ''mot de passe'' “password” and ''maison de passe'' “house of assignation” (both 1828–1829; the latter in 1821),^(TLFi)^(BHVF) and in criminals' slang ''la passe'' was the guillotine.^(TLFi) In sports a ''passe'' is a pass of the ball.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1368 – “Passage” in the Nord accounts.^(TLFi)

+ * 1383 – The target in a javelin game.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1375 – The passage of birds, in hunting.^(TLFi)

+ * 1611 – The arch in games of mall, in Cotgrave.^(TLFi)

+ * 1648 – ''Être en passe de'' in Scarron.^(TLFi)

+ * 1669 – A fencing term.^(TLFi)

+ * 1821 – ''Maison de passe''.^(BHVF)

+ * 1828–1829 – ''Mot de passe'' in Vidocq.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(sports)'' A [[m|en|pass]] of the ball: ''faire une passe''.^(Wiktionary)^(Larousse)

+ # A situation or period: ''une mauvaise passe'', ''être en passe de'': to be on the way to.^(Larousse)^(TLFi)

+ # A narrow navigable passage, a [[m|en|channel]]; a mountain pass.^(Larousse)

+ # ''(fencing)'' A thrust made while stepping forward.^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(slang)'' A prostitute's [[m|en|trick]], ''maison de passe'': a brothel.^(Wiktionary)^(BHVF)

+ # ''Mot de passe'': a [[m|en|password]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[passer]]

+ * [[passage]]

+ * [[impasse]]

+ * [[en|pass]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Passe'' is also a dated name for small birds such as the dunnock (''passe buissonnière''), from [[la|passer|t=sparrow]].^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Littré 1873) A masculine ''passe'' is the familiar clipping of [[passe-partout]] (1850).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}