bataille French · revision 16975

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ba.taj/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /ba.tɑj/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bataille''' ''f'' (plural batailles)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-lat|battālia]] (5th–6th centuries), an alteration of [[m|la-lat|battuālia]], a neuter plural attested in the 4th century in the sense “fencing exercises”,^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|1, 290a) from [[la|battuō|t=to beat]], the source of [[battre]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Wiktionary gives the Latin verb a Gaulish origin.^(Wiktionary) Littré quotes the grammarian Adamantius Martyr, “batualia, quae vulgo battalia dicuntur”, and notes that the neuter plural became a feminine singular, as in [[merveille]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|battaglia]], [[pro|batalha]], [[ca|batalla]] (whence [[es|batalla]] and [[pt|batalha]]) and [[ro|bătaie|t=beating]].^(REW 1935)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) From French came [[en|battle]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) uses it both for a battle between two armies, ''Jo nen ai ost qui bataille li dunne'' (“I have no army to give him battle”), and for a combat between two men.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By extension it was used of a clash between several opponents, in the literal and the figurative sense (about 1176).^(DHLF 1992) By metonymy it named a body of troops (about 1176), a common sense until the 17th century, when [[armée]] and [[troupe]] replaced it;^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) from the related sense “order of an army drawn up for combat” come ''en bataille'' and ''bataille rangée'', which Bloch and Wartburg date to about 1350 and Rey to 1606.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992) Rabelais has ''bataille navale'' (1542), and ''venir après la bataille'' “to come when all is over” dates from 1552.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ The order of ''en bataille'' tends to turn into its opposite: ''mettre son chapeau en bataille'' (1858) was to wear a cocked hat crosswise, and ''les cheveux en bataille'' is tousled hair.^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) ''Bataille'' is also a simple card game and ''bataille navale'' a guessing game.^(DHLF 1992) The verb [[batailler]] (about 1130) now means mostly to argue hard (1690).^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – In the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1130 – ''Bataillier''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1176 – A body of troops; a clash of several opponents.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1213 – ''Batailleur''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * c. 1350 – ''Bataille rangée'', according to Bloch and Wartburg.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1542 – ''Bataille navale'', in Rabelais.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1552 – ''Venir après la bataille''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1858 – ''Chapeau en bataille''.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|battle]], a combat between two armies: ''bataille navale, aérienne'', ''livrer bataille'', ''gagner, perdre une bataille'', ''champ de bataille'', battlefield.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Bataille rangée'': a [[m|en|pitched battle]]; figuratively a free-for-all.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A fight or struggle between opponents, also figuratively.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''En bataille'': drawn up in battle order; of hair, untidy: ''les cheveux en bataille''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Cheval de bataille'': a favourite theme, [[m|en|hobby horse]].^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(card games)'' [[m|en|war|alt=War]], a simple card game, ''bataille navale'', the game of [[m|en|battleships]].^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(historical)'' A body of troops.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[batailleur]]

+ * [[batailler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[battre]]

+ * [[bataillon]]

+ * [[combat]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}