boîte French · revision 16526

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1150 (boiste)|origins=grc πύξος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bwat/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /bwɛːt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''boîte''' ''f'' (plural boîtes)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''boiste'' (about 1150), also ''boete'', ''bouette''; the spelling ''boëte'' is still found in Balzac.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|boiste]], [[inh|la-vul|*buxita]], a Gallo-Roman form of [[la-lat|buxida]] (4th–5th century) with a change of suffix.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|9, 649b) “Buxida” is the accusative of “buxis”, an altered form of [[la|pyxis|t=small box, casket]], perhaps under the influence of [[m|la|buxus|t=box tree]] (whence [[buis]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005) The Latin word, at first the name of a precious object, was borrowed from [[grc|πυξίς|tr=puxís|t=box made of boxwood]], from [[m|grc|πύξος|tr=púxos|t=box tree]], itself probably a loanword.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Compare [[pro|boissa]] and [[it|bossolo]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) [[de|Büchse]] and [[en|box]] go back to the same Latin family.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ ''Boiste'' is found about 1150 and in Wace (1155), meaning a container with a lid; a small casket is recorded in 1177.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The precious overtones of the Latin word passed to the diminutive ''boistelette'' and later to [[coffret]] and [[écrin]].^(DHLF 1992) Fixed phrases name its use: ''boiste à porter lettres'' (1352), then ''boîte aux lettres'' (1835).^(DHLF 1992) In anatomy it named the socket of a joint (1314), the source of [[boiteux]] (1226), and later ''boîte crânienne'' (1833); in mechanics the case of a watch (1723).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ As a building it appears in the 15th century in ''boiste aux cailloux'' “prison”; in familiar French it means a workplace (1860), a school (1868) and a ''boîte de nuit'' (1918).^(DHLF 1992) ''Mettre en boîte'' “to tease” (1910) comes from ''emboîter'' (1880).^(DHLF 1992) ''C'est dans la boîte'' “it's in the can” is cinema slang (1952), and ''boîte noire'' a flight recorder (1965).^(BHVF)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – ''Boiste''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1226 – The derivative ''boiteux''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1314 – The socket of a joint.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1352 – ''Boiste à porter lettres''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 15th century – ''Boiste aux cailloux'', a prison.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+ * 1835 – ''Boîte aux lettres''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1860 – A workplace.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1910 – ''Mettre en boîte''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1918 – ''Boîte de nuit''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1965 – ''Boîte noire''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|box]], a rigid container, usually with a lid; its contents: ''boîte en carton'', ''boîte à outils'', ''une boîte de chocolats''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A [[m|en|tin]], can: ''boîte de conserve'', ''haricots en boîte''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Boîte aux lettres'': a letterbox, postbox, ''boîte postale'', a post office box.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A hollow casing or part: ''boîte crânienne'', ''boîte de vitesses'', ''boîte noire''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' A firm, office, workplace; a school.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' A [[m|en|nightclub]]: ''aller en boîte''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Mettre en boîte'': to tease, make fun of.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[boîtier]]

+ * [[boîtelette]]

+ * [[boiter]]

+ * [[boiteux]]

+ * [[emboîter]]

+ * [[déboîter]]

+ * [[ouvre-boîtes]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[buis]]

+ * [[boisseau]]

+ * [[la|pyxis]]

+ * [[en|box]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}