pomme French · revision 16675

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɔm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pomme''' ''f'' (plural pommes)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''pume'' (1080), ''pome'' (about 1155); ''pomme'' from 1273 (Adenet).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|pome]], [[inh|la-lat|pōma]], the neuter plural of classical [[m|la|pōmum|t=fruit]] taken as a feminine singular with collective value;^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|9, 152b) the same process gave [[pêche]], [[poire]] and [[prune]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The Latin noun named the fruit of any tree, stone fruit or pip fruit; it is probably a borrowing from an unknown language.^(DHLF 1992) From the early 5th century (Marcellus Empiricus) it took the special sense “apple” in Gaul, northern Italy and most of Spain, replacing the classical name of the apple, [[m|la|mālum]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) The masculine noun itself gave Old French [[m|fro|pon]] “pommel of a sword” (1080), whence [[pommeau]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Compare [[ca|poma]], [[pt|pomo]] and [[pro|pom]] “apple”, beside [[ro|poamă]] and [[it|pomo]], which keep the sense “fruit”.^(REW 1935)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) Roland holds a red apple as a symbol of the crowns he will win for Charlemagne: ''En sa main tint une vermeille pume''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 13th century it was used, with a qualifier, for other plant products shaped like an apple: ''pume de pin'' “pine cone” (about 1200), ''poume de paradis'' “banana” (about 1256), ''pome grenate'' “pomegranate”, ''pomme d'amour'' “tomato” (Robert Estienne, 1549), and ''pomme de terre'' (1655); several gave way to shorter names.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) The ''Ménagier de Paris'' (about 1393) uses it for the heart of a cabbage, and Robert Grosseteste (first half of the 13th century) for the forbidden fruit of Eden.^(TLFi)

+

+ Familiar phrases include ''aux pommes'' “splendid” (Delvau, 1867), ''tomber dans les pommes'' “to faint” (1889) and ''haut comme trois pommes'' (Colette, 1910).^(GLLF 1989) ''Pomme'' alone for a potato is a restaurant ellipsis of ''pomme de terre'' (1834, ''steak pommes frites'').^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 1155 – ''Pome'', Wace.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – ''Pume de pin''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1256 – ''Poume de paradis'' “banana”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1273 – ''Pomme'', Adenet.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1393 – Heart of a cabbage.^(TLFi)

+ * 1549 – ''Pomme d'amour'' “tomato”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1655 – ''Pomme de terre''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1834 – ''Pomme'' for a potato.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1889 – ''Tomber dans les pommes''.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|apple]]: ''pomme à couteau'', ''pomme à cuire'', ''pomme à cidre'', ''tarte aux pommes''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An object shaped like an apple: ''pomme de pin'', pine cone, ''pomme d'arrosoir'', the rose of a watering can, ''pomme de douche''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The heart of a cabbage or lettuce.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Pomme d'Adam'': [[m|en|Adam's apple]], ''pomme de discorde'', bone of contention.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(cooking)'' A potato: ''pommes frites'', ''pommes vapeur''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' The head, the face, ''ma pomme'', me, yours truly.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(familiar)'' A [[m|en|simpleton]], ninny.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Tomber dans les pommes'': to faint.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pommier]]

+ * [[pommeraie]]

+ * [[pommette]]

+ * [[pommelé]]

+ * [[pommer]]

+ * [[pomme de terre]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pommeau]]

+ * [[pommade]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}