paquet French · revision 16741

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=1368 (parquet); 1388 (paquet)|origins=dum pac}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pa.kɛ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''paquet''' ''m'' (plural paquets)^(Wiktionary)

+ ''Parquet'' (1368), ''paquet'' (1388), ''pacquet''; the base noun is recorded as ''pakke'' (1410) and ''pacque'' (1510).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a diminutive formed on Middle French [[m|frm|pacque|t=bale (of cloth)]], with the suffix [[-et]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|16, 613a) The base word is borrowed from Middle Dutch [[m|dum|pac|t=bundle, bale]], recorded in a Medieval Latin text of 1199; the verb [[m|frm|paquier|t=to pack]] in Picard and Flemish texts of the same period supports a Dutch source.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) Rey thinks the form [[m|frm|pakke]] was probably taken from English [[m|en|pack]], itself probably from Dutch.^(DHLF 1992) Bloch and Wartburg list related words in many languages, [[de|Pack]], [[non|pakki]] and Irish and Welsh forms, but find the starting point uncertain, Wiktionary traces it to [[gem-pro|*pakkô]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A document of 1368 has ''parquet'' for several things tied or wrapped together, an object wrapped to be carried or protected, ''paquet'' appears in an inventory of the dukes of Burgundy in 1388.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From 1464 it was a bundle of letters for one person, and in Furetière (1690) all the letters carried by a courier.^(TLFi) ''Faire son paquet'' “to get ready to leave” is recorded about 1485, and “to prepare for death” in 1585, ''hasarder le paquet'' (1606), later ''risquer le paquet'' (La Fontaine, 1692), was to venture on a risky undertaking.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ It was applied to people: an awkward or stupid person (Académie, 1798), someone badly dressed or stout (1803).^(TLFi)^(BHVF) ''Paquet de mer'' “heavy sea” dates from 1831, ''un paquet de'' “a great quantity of” from Zola (1873), and ''mettre le paquet'' “to pull out all the stops” from 1931, in sport.^(TLFi) In rugby ''le paquet'' is the forwards (1914).^(TLFi)^(BHVF) The packaging itself, of paper or cardboard, is a ''paquet'' from 1845, as in ''un paquet de cigarettes''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1368 – ''Parquet'' “bundle”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1388 – ''Paquet''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1464 – A bundle of letters.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1485 – ''Faire son paquet''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1692 – ''Risquer le paquet'', La Fontaine.^(TLFi)

+ * 1845 – A manufactured packet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1914 – The rugby pack.^(TLFi)

+ * 1931 – ''Mettre le paquet''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|parcel]], package: ''envoyer un paquet par la poste'', ''faire un paquet''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|packet]], pack: ''un paquet de cigarettes, de pâtes'', ''un paquet de cartes''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A bundle: ''un paquet de linge'', ''faire ses paquets'', to pack one's bags.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' A large amount: ''un paquet de''; a wad (of cash); ''mettre le paquet'', to go all out.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Paquet de mer'': a big wave breaking on board.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(rugby)'' The pack, the forwards.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar, dated)'' A clumsy person; a stout or badly dressed person.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paqueter]]

+ * [[paquetage]]

+ * [[empaqueter]]

+ * [[dépaqueter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pack]]

+ * [[en|packet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}