carton French · revision 16102

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1500|origins=la charta}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kaʁ.tɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''carton''' ''m'' (plural cartons)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|cartone]], the augmentative of [[m|it|carta|t=paper]] with the suffix [[m|it|-one]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) itself from [[la|charta]], the source of [[carte]].^(DHLF 1992) The Italian word is found in the 16th century both in its general sense and as a painters' term.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first recorded about 1500, in an inventory of François I of Luxembourg, for thick, stiff paper: [[m|en|pasteboard]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the material it passed to a box made of it (1611, Cotgrave, as in ''carton à chapeaux''), to a portfolio for drawings (1800) and to a filing box.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi) In painting it is a full-size drawing used as a model for a fresco or tapestry: Richelet records it in 1680, but a letter of 1641 already speaks of ''les cartons de dessus les fenestres''.^(TLFi)^(BHVF) Printers used it from 1621 for a leaf reprinted to correct an error.^(BHVF) The shooting target made of cardboard gave ''faire un carton'' “to hit the mark; to score a resounding win”.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) By allusion to the props of the theatre, ''de carton'' means “sham”: Saint-Simon wrote of a ''roi de carton'' (before 1755), and ''carton-pâte'' (1860) has become the usual word for fake scenery.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Familiarly it is also an invitation card, and ''taper le carton'' is to play cards.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ English took [[m|en|carton]] in 1816 for thin pasteboard, and for the boxes in 1890; [[m|en|cartoon]] (1670s), a preliminary drawing, comes from French ''carton'' or directly from the Italian word.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1500 – ''Carton'' “pasteboard” is first recorded.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1611 – Cotgrave records a box made of it.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1621 – Printers use it for a reprinted leaf.^(BHVF)

+ * 1641 – Used for an artist's full-size drawing.^(BHVF)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * before 1755 – Saint-Simon writes of a ''roi de carton''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1800 – Boiste records the portfolio for drawings.^(TLFi)

+ * 1816 – English borrows the word.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1860 – ''Carton-pâte'' is recorded.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|cardboard|alt=Cardboard]], [[m|en|pasteboard]]: ''carton ondulé''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # A cardboard [[m|en|box]]: ''carton à chaussures''; a filing box.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(painting)'' A full-size preparatory drawing for a [[m|en|fresco]], tapestry or stained glass.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A cardboard target;^(GLLF 1989) ''faire un carton'', to hit the target, ''(familiar)'' to score a big win.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(familiar)'' An invitation card;^(GLLF 1989) ''taper le carton'', to play cards.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(football)'' ''Carton jaune'', ''carton rouge'': a yellow or red card.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''De carton'', ''en carton-pâte'': sham, fake.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(cartography)'' An inset map on the same sheet.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cartonner]]

+ * [[cartonnage]]

+ * [[cartonnerie]]

+ * [[cartonnier]]

+ * [[carton-pâte]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[carte]]

+ * [[it|cartone]]

+ * [[en|carton]]

+ * [[en|cartoon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}