plomb French · revision 15978

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1121–1134, Philippe de Thaon|origins=la plumbum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /plɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''plomb''' ''m'' (plural plombs)^(Wiktionary)

+ [[fro|plum]] (1121–1134), ''plom'', ''plon''; the ⟨b⟩ was restored in the 15th century, partly after ''plomber''; it was not pronounced in the 16th century (Palsgrave).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|plum]], [[inh|la|plumbum|t=lead; lead shot; lead pipe]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|9, 95b) The origin of the Latin word is obscure; it is probably borrowed from a Mediterranean language, perhaps Iberian, lead coming from Spain.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|piombo]], [[pro|plom]], [[ca|plom]], [[es|plomo]], [[pt|chumbo]] and [[ro|plumb]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)^(REW 1935) [[en|plumb]], [[en|plunge]] and [[en|plumber]] come from French.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Philippe de Thaon's ''Bestiaire'' (1121–1134) has ''plum'' for the metal.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old French already used it for objects of lead: the plumb-bob (Villard de Honnecourt, 1260), whence ''à plomb'' “vertically” (1552) and later ''fil à plomb'' (1751), and the leaden seal of papal bulls (late 14th century), later any seal of lead (1638).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) A ''plomb'' was also the lead of a stained-glass window (1454), the sinker of a fishing line (1580) and, from about 1600 (Desportes), shot for a firearm, whence ''avoir du plomb dans l'aile'' (1878).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Figuratively ''plomb'' expresses heaviness: ''soleil de plomb'' (Lamartine, 1835), ''sommeil de plomb'' (Balzac, 1842), ''avoir du plomb dans la tête''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) In electricity the ''plomb de sûreté'' (1890) or fuse gave ''faire sauter les plombs'' and ''péter les plombs'' “to lose control” (1980s).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In 19th-century slang ''ferme ton plomb !'' meant “shut your mouth” (1867).^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1121–1134 – ''Plum'' in Philippe de Thaon.^(TLFi)

+ * 1260 – A plumb-bob.^(TLFi)

+ * 1304 – ''Plomberie''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1316 – ''Plombier''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1552 – ''À plomb''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1600 – Shot, in Desportes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1835 – ''Soleil de plomb''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1890 – ''Plomb de sûreté''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|lead|alt=Lead]] (metal): ''tuyau de plomb'', ''essence sans plomb''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Shot: ''du gros plomb'', ''avoir du plomb dans l'aile'': to be in a bad way.^(Larousse)^(TLFi)

+ # A sinker; a plumb-bob: ''fil à plomb'', ''à plomb'': vertically.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # A lead seal: ''plomb de douane''.^(Larousse)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[m|en|fuse]]: ''les plombs ont sauté'', ''péter les plombs'': to blow one's top.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # Heaviness: ''soleil de plomb'', ''sommeil de plomb'', ''soldat de plomb'': tin soldier.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[plombage]]

+ * [[plomber]]

+ * [[plombier]]

+ * [[surplomber]]

+ * [[aplomb]]

+ * [[plomberie]]

+ * [[surplomb]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plonger]]

+ * [[la|plumbum]]

+ * [[en|plumb]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}