pute French · revision 16667

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1200, First Continuation of Perceval|origins=la pūteō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pyt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pute''' ''f'' (plural putes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|pute]], the feminine of the Old French adjective [[m|fro|put|t=stinking; bad, vile]] used as a noun,^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989) which continues [[inh|la|pūtidus|t=stinking, rotten]], from [[m|la|pūteō|t=to rot, stink]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) The adjective is found from about 1100 (in [[m|fro|put aire|t=of base stock]]), and survives in eastern French dialects in the sense “ugly”.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007) [[putain]] was its oblique case.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Littré instead derived it from a Latin [[m|la|*puta|t=girl]], feminine of [[m|la|putus|t=boy]], arguing that the word had no bad sense in itself, Wiktionary gives both explanations, the TLFi prefers the first.^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Compare [[pro|puta]] (mid-12th century, Marcabru), [[es|puta]] and [[it|putta]].^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''First Continuation of Perceval'' (about 1200) has it for a prostitute, especially as a term of abuse.^(TLFi) Anglo-Norman texts have ''pute'' from 1121–35.^(AND)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Guillaume de Lorris (about 1240) uses ''pute'' as an adjective for “lascivious, debauched”.^(GLLF 1989) The word has always been coarse; it now serves both for a prostitute and as an insult for a woman thought promiscuous (''fils de pute''), and, as an adjective, for a person who will stoop to anything.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – The adjective ''put'', ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1121–35 – Anglo-Norman ''pute''.^(AND)

+ * Mid-12th century – Old Occitan ''puta'', Marcabru.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1200 – ''Pute'' “prostitute”.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1240 – Adjective “lascivious”, Guillaume de Lorris.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(vulgar)'' A [[m|en|prostitute]], [[m|en|whore]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(vulgar, offensive)'' A woman considered promiscuous, ''fils de pute'', son of a bitch.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(vulgar)'' ''Coup de pute'': a dirty trick.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(vulgar)'' Of a person, ready to stoop to anything to get what they want.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[putain]]

+ * [[putasse]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[puer]]

+ * [[putride]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}