course French · revision 17052

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1213, Faits des Romains (corse)|origins=la currō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kuʁs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''course''' ''f'' (plural courses)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''corse'' (1213); ''course'' from 1553, or from Froissart about 1360.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine form of [[cours]], from [[la|cursus|t=a running, course]], from [[m|la|currō|t=to run]], and its development may have been helped by [[it|corsa|t=run, race]], recorded in the 14th century.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|2, 1576b)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Faits des Romains'' (1213) use ''corse'' for a military expedition; the ''Roman de Renart'' (about 1205) has ''a grant corse'' “at a great run”.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the sense “running, speed” it displaced the masculine ''cours'', with the phrase ''au pas de course'' (1835).^(DHLF 1992) As a contest it is in Robert Estienne (1538), with ''courses de chevaux'' (1700, Rey; 1771, Turgot), ''course au clocher'' (1833, Balzac) and ''course de taureaux'' (1654, revived in 1847 by Mérimée).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In Quebec ''être à la course'' means to be in a hurry.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ At sea a ''course'' was an expedition for plunder (1568), the activity of the [[corsaire]]: international law of the 17th century applied it to armed ships licensed to attack an enemy's trade (''guerre de course''), which reached its height between 1577 and the early 18th century.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Other senses followed: the course of the sun (1568), a set route (1606), a cab ride (1813), a walk in the mountains (1775–1796), the travel of a machine part (1676), and an errand (1690), whence ''faire les courses'' “to go shopping”.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1205 – ''A grant corse'', ''Roman de Renart''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1213 – ''Corse'', a military expedition.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – A race, Robert Estienne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1568 – A privateering expedition; the course of the sun.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – An errand, Furetière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1771 – ''Courses de chevaux'', Turgot.^(TLFi)

+ * 1813 – A cab ride.^(TLFi)

+ * 1847 – ''Course de taureaux'', Mérimée.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|running]], a run: ''au pas de course'', ''faire la course avec qqn'', ''à bout de course'', exhausted.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|race]]: ''course à pied'', ''courses de chevaux'', ''(plural)'' horse races.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A race, competition: ''la course aux armements''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|errand]], ''(plural)'' shopping: ''faire les courses''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A journey, a trip; a taxi ride: ''le prix de la course''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # The course, path (of a star, of time); ''(mechanics)'' the travel of a piston.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A mountain outing, ''(skiing)'' racing.^(BHVF)

+ # ''(historical)'' [[m|en|privateering]]: ''guerre de course''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cours]]

+ * [[courir]]

+ * [[coursier]]

+ * [[corsaire]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}