peau French · revision 16489

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /po/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''peau''' ''f'' (plural peaux)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|pel]] (1080), ''piau'' (13th century); ''peau'' is a singular remade from the plural ''pels'', ''peals'', ''peaus'' (early 15th century, Charles d'Orléans).^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|pel]], [[inh|la|pellis|t=animal skin, fur; leather; parchment]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|8, 165a) In popular Latin it replaced [[m|la|cutis|t=human skin]] (compare [[cutané]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Rey and the Petit Robert relate it to [[grc|πέλμα|tr=pélma|t=sole of the foot]], [[ang|filmen|t=membrane]] (compare [[film]]) and [[de|Fell]], from an Indo-European root [[ine-pro|*pel-|t=to cover, wrap]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[ro|piele]], [[it|pelle]], [[oc|pèl]], [[ca|pell]], [[es|piel]] and [[pt|pele]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) Marsile throws off ''ses grandes pels de martre'', “his great marten furs”: skin taken from an animal and made into fur.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant parchment (about 1175), later ''peau d'âne'' “diploma” (1883), and the human skin (early 12th century, ''Voyage of Saint Brendan''), with phrases such as ''n'avoir que la peau et les os'' (1188), ''en peau'' “in a low-cut dress” (1875) and ''se sentir bien dans sa peau'' (Gide, 1914).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ By metonymy it stands for one's life: ''laissier la pel'' “to die” (''Eneas'', about 1160), ''vendre cher sa peau'' (about 1570), ''risquer sa peau'' (Molière, 1656), ''avoir la peau de quelqu'un'' (1677), ''faire la peau'' “to kill” (1850).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) It also stands for a person's nature (''faire peau neuve'', Hugo, 1831, ''être dans la peau de quelqu'un'', 1640) and for the body: ''avoir quelqu'un dans la peau'' (1896).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Pejoratively a ''peau'' is a disreputable person (1845), as in ''vieille peau'', and ''peau de balle'' or ''peau de zébi'' means “nothing at all”.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Pels de martre'', ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * Early 12th century – Human skin.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1160 – ''Laissier la pel'' “to die”.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1175 – Parchment.^(TLFi)

+ * Early 15th century – The form ''peau''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1656 – ''Risquer sa peau'', Molière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1831 – ''Faire peau neuve'', Hugo.^(TLFi)

+ * 1914 – ''Se sentir bien dans sa peau'', Gide.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|skin]] of a person or animal: ''avoir la peau douce'', ''à fleur de peau''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A [[m|en|hide]], pelt, fur; leather: ''une peau de mouton'', ''des gants de peau''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # The skin or peel of a fruit; the skin on milk or other food.^(Wiktionary)

+ # One's life: ''risquer sa peau'', ''faire la peau à quelqu'un'', to kill.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # One's self, nature: ''être bien, mal dans sa peau'', ''faire peau neuve''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(familiar, pejorative)'' ''Vieille peau'': old hag, ''peau de vache'': a nasty person.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Peau d'âne'': a diploma.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[peaussier]]

+ * [[peausserie]]

+ * [[peaucier]]

+ * [[pelletier]]

+ * [[oripeau]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pelisse]]

+ * [[pellicule]]

+ * [[la|pellis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}