but French · revision 17005

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=1245 (but a but)|origins=non bútr}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /byt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''but''' ''m'' (plural buts)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is doubtful.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The TLFi, Rey and Bloch–Wartburg favour [[bor|non|bútr|t=log, block of wood]], a piece of wood having probably served as a target in archery; the spread of the word and its derivatives in Normandy supports a Norse source.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|15/2, 34a) Rey compares [[gmh|butze|t=clod]], [[en|butt|t=log, stump]] and [[nl|bot]].^(DHLF 1992) The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and the GLLF prefer [[frk|*but|t=stump, block]], which the TLFi and Rey reject on phonetic grounds.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Littré and Pierre Guiraud see in it another form of [[bout]], Guiraud through the older feminine [[butte]] “place to be reached” (1225).^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005) Wiktionary traces both Germanic forms to [[gem-pro|*buttaz|t=end, piece]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The word is known indirectly in the late 12th century through its derivatives, such as [[fro|a rebutons|t=wrongly]] (about 1180).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A cartulary of 1245 has ''but a but'' “without restriction”, later “with no advantage on either side”, of an exchange (1312) or a game.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was rare before the 16th century.^(DHLF 1992) It then spread with the concrete sense “point aimed at, target” (1534 according to Rey, 1552 in Rabelais according to the TLFi), the extended sense “end, limit” (1538, Marot) and the figurative sense “aim, purpose in life” (1552, Rabelais, Montaigne: ''l'ame qui n'a point de but estably'').^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ''De but en blanc'' (1660, Molière) comes from gunnery: the ''but'' was the place from which one fired and the ''blanc'' the centre of the target, hence “point-blank”, then “abruptly, without preparation”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In sport ''but'' is the goal and, from the early 20th century, a goal scored (''marquer un but'').^(BHVF)^(Petit Robert 2007) The final /t/, now usual, was condemned by Littré.^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1180 – The derivative ''a rebutons''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1245 – ''But a but''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – “End, limit”, Marot.^(TLFi)

+ * 1552 – “Target” and “purpose”, Rabelais.^(TLFi)

+ * 1660 – ''De but en blanc'', Molière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1666 – ''Toucher au but'', Molière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1922 – A goal in sport, according to the FEW.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|aim]], purpose: ''dans le but de'', ''atteindre son but'', ''aller droit au but''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A destination, end point: ''le but d'une promenade''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A target, the mark aimed at, ''(bowls)'' the jack.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(sport)'' The [[m|en|goal]]: ''gardien de but''; a goal scored: ''marquer un but''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''De but en blanc'': point-blank, abruptly.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[butte]]

+ * [[buter]]

+ * [[buteur]]

+ * [[débuter]]

+ * [[début]]

+ * [[rebuter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bout]]

+ * [[bouter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}