taper French · revision 16659

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=c. 1175, Chrétien de Troyes}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ta.pe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''taper'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably onomatopoeic, from a stem imitating the sound of a short, dull blow.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989) The Grand Robert gives a choice between onomatopoeia, [[dum|tappe|t=paw]] and a Germanic [[m|frk|*tappōn]],^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) and Wiktionary derives it from that Frankish verb or from [[gml|tappen|t=to tap, strike]], comparing [[de|tappen|t=to grope]] and [[en|dab]].^(Wiktionary) Rey also mentions possible influence from the nautical term for plugging, of the family of [[tampon]] (see Usage notes).^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Compare [[it|tappete|t=rat-a-tat]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In its first record, in Chrétien de Troyes (about 1175), it is said of a falcon seizing a bird in flight, a sense that is out of line with the later ones.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1200 it meant “to pat, tap” and “to caress”, by about 1220 “to strike (someone)”, and in the 14th century “to strike” in general, transitive and intransitive.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In the same period the sun was said to ''taper'' (beat down) and wine to go to the head.^(DHLF 1992) ''Taper des pieds'' (1538), later ''taper du pied'' (1689), expressed impatience or anger.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ The 19th century brought many familiar uses: ''taper dans l'œil'' “to take someone's fancy” (1859), ''taper sur les nerfs'' (1868), ''taper un air'' on the piano (1869, Flaubert), and ''taper quelqu'un'' “to touch someone for money” (1866, Delvau), which Bloch and Wartburg explain as a joke on striking hands to seal a bargain.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) ''Se taper quelque chose'' “to treat oneself to” is found in 1776, ''se taper la cloche'' “to have a good feed” in 1919.^(TLFi) The sense “to type” is recorded in 1923.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1175 – Of a falcon seizing a bird, Chrétien de Troyes.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – “To pat, tap; to caress”.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1225 – “To strike (someone)”, Gautier de Coinci.^(TLFi)

+ * 1306 – “To strike (something)”, Guillaume Guiart.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – ''Taper des pieds''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1695 – The derivative [[tapage]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1776 – ''Se taper quelque chose'', Collé.^(TLFi)

+ * 1866 – “To borrow money from”, Delvau.^(TLFi)

+ * 1868 – ''Taper sur les nerfs'', George Sand.^(TLFi)

+ * 1919 – ''Se taper la cloche'', Dorgelès.^(TLFi)

+ * 1923 – “To type”.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hit, [[m|en|slap]] (someone) with the flat of the hand or with an object: ''maman, il m'a tapé !''^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To strike (something); to tap, [[m|en|rap]]: ''taper sur la table'', ''taper du pied''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|type]]: ''taper une lettre à la machine''.^(BHVF)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' To touch (someone) for money: ''taper un ami de cent euros''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of the sun, to beat down; of wine, to go to the head.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Taper dans l'œil'' (''à quelqu'un''): to take someone's fancy, ''taper sur les nerfs'', to get on someone's nerves.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Se taper'': to treat oneself to (food, drink); to put up with (a chore); ''(vulgar)'' to have sex with.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tape]]

+ * [[tapage]]

+ * [[tapageur]]

+ * [[tapoter]]

+ * [[tapette]]

+ * [[tapeur]]

+ * [[retaper]]

+ * [[tape-à-l'œil]]

+ * [[tapuscrit]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tampon]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate verb ''taper'' “to plug (a hawse-hole) with a tampion” is a sailors' term recorded in 1752, from [[pro|tapar]] (14th century) and a Germanic word for a bung, compare [[nl|tap]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}