dos French · revision 16466

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland|origins=la dorsum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /do/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dos''' ''m'' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|dossum]], an altered form of [[la|dorsum|t=back, especially of an animal; ridge]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|3, 144a) “Dorsum”, a popular word used by the slaves in Plautus, replaced the ordinary [[m|la|tergum]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) Rey knows no better etymology than a link with [[m|la|deorsum|t=downwards]], the back being the part of the body that bends down.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Cognate with [[ro|dos]], [[oc|dos]], [[it|dosso]], [[ca|dors]], [[es|dorso]] and [[pt|dorso]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary) The type “dos” prevails only in the northern dialects; the south uses “reins” and, as far as Poitou, “échine”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) has ''Tute l'eschine li desevre del dos'' (“he splits the whole spine from his back”) and ''de cels d'Espaigne unt lur dos turnez'' (“of those of Spain who have turned their backs”).^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Many phrases grew from it: ''tourner le dos'', ''avoir quelqu'un à dos'' and ''avoir bon dos'' (Richelet, 1680; the latter already in 1587), ''faire le gros dos'' (about 1642) and ''en avoir plein le dos'' (1809), continuing a 16th-century ''en avoir dans le dos''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) By analogy it named the back of a spoon (1393), and ''dos d'âne'' a ridged shape (about 1360).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ From the mackerel's back, ''dos vert'' (1773) and then ''dos'' alone meant a pimp, from about 1876 to 1920.^(DHLF 1992) In Quebec ''avoir le dos large'' is to bear others' responsibilities, in Belgium ''parler sur le dos de quelqu'un'' is to talk behind someone's back, and in African French ''faire le gros dos'' is to show off.^(DHLF 1992) ''Dossier'' “file” (1680) is so called because the bundle carried a label on its back.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – In the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1360 – ''Dos d'âne''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1393 – ''Le dos de la cuillier''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1587 – ''Avoir bon dos''.^(BHVF)

+ * 1680 – ''Avoir une personne à dos'' in Richelet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1809 – ''En avoir plein le dos''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1876 – ''Dos'' “pimp”, in Richepin.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|back]]: ''avoir mal au dos'', ''dormir sur le dos''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # The back of an animal.^(Larousse)

+ # The back of a garment, a chair or the hand; the [[m|en|spine]] of a book.^(Larousse)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(swimming)'' [[m|en|backstroke]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Tourner le dos'': to turn one's back, ''avoir bon dos'': to be a convenient scapegoat.^(DHLF 1992)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''En avoir plein le dos'': to be fed up, ''faire le gros dos'': to hunch one's back, lie low.^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+ # ''Dos d'âne'': a [[m|en|speed bump]], a ridge.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(obsolete slang)'' A pimp.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[adosser]]

+ * [[dossard]]

+ * [[dossier]]

+ * [[endosser]]

+ * [[dosse]]

+ * [[dossière]]

+ * [[ados]]

+ * [[adossement]]

+ * [[endos]]

+ * [[endossement]]

+ * [[extrados]]

+ * [[intrados]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dorsal]]

+ * [[la|dorsum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}