cheval French · revision 17312

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃə.val/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /ʃval/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cheval''' ''m'' (plural chevaux, feminine jument)^(Wiktionary)

+ In Old French the nominative singular was ''chevals'', ''chevaus'', the oblique ''cheval''; the modern contrast of ''cheval'' and ''chevaux'' is a remnant of that declension.^(Littré 1873)

+ A popular pronunciation gave ''choual'', the source of Quebec [[joual]].^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|cheval]], [[inh|la|caballus|t=pack horse, nag]].^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|2, 8b) “Caballus” was a popular word, first for a poor horse or a gelding, then for a work horse; it spread through spoken Latin and ousted classical [[m|la|equus]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Its origin is obscure: a Gaulish (Celtic) or Balkan source has been supposed, and some think of an ethnic name, as with [[hongre]].^(DHLF 1992) The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert call it Gaulish.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ Cognate with [[ro|cal]], [[it|cavallo]], [[oc|caval]], [[ca|cavall]], [[es|caballo]] and [[pt|cavalo]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It names the animal from the early 12th century in the Laws of William the Conqueror, and about 1100 in the ''Chanson de Roland'', where ''as chevals'' means “mounted” and is also the order to mount.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ About 1195 it is used specifically of the male, as opposed to [[jument]], and, from 1873 of horse meat.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The horse's place in society until the 19th century shows in the number of phrases: ''à cheval'' “astride” (before 1661) and figuratively ''être à cheval sur'' “to be a stickler for” (1835), ''monter sur ses grands chevaux'' “to fly off the handle” (before 1592, Montaigne), and ''cheval de bataille'', a favourite theme (1690).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''De cheval'' expresses brute strength: ''médecine de cheval'' (1690), ''fièvre de cheval'' (1798).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ By analogy it names things shaped or used like a horse: the ''cheval de bois'' (1556) and the merry-go-round, the ''cheval de frise'' in fortification (1680), the vaulting horse ''cheval d'arçons'' (1946), and the game of ''petits chevaux'' (1891).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Cheval-vapeur'' imitates English ''horse power'', and the ''cheval fiscal'' gave the name of the Citroën ''deux-chevaux''.^(DHLF 1992) In slang a ''cheval de retour'' is a repeat offender (1828, Vidocq),^(TLFi) and ''cheval'' is also heroin.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – The ''Chanson de Roland'': ''as chevals'' “on horseback”.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1195 – The male horse, in Ambroise.^(TLFi)

+ * 1556 – ''Cheval de bois''.^(TLFi)

+ * Before 1592 – Montaigne's ''monter sur ses grands chevaux''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1611 – ''Cheval marin'' “sea horse”, in Cotgrave.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – ''Cheval de frise'', in Richelet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – Furetière records ''cheval de bataille'' and ''médecine de cheval''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1828 – ''Cheval de retour'' “repeat offender”, Vidocq.^(TLFi)

+ * 1835 – ''Être à cheval sur'', in the Académie dictionary.^(TLFi)

+ * 1873 – Horse meat.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|horse]], used for riding and draught; specifically the adult male, as opposed to [[jument]] and [[poulain]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # [[équitation|alt=Riding]]: ''faire du cheval''.^(Larousse)

+ # Horse [[m|en|meat]].^(Larousse)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A big, strong or coarse person: ''un grand cheval''.^(Larousse)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Cheval-vapeur'': [[m|en|horsepower]], ''cheval fiscal'': the unit used to tax a car.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''À cheval'': astride, ''être à cheval sur'': to be very strict about.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(slang)'' [[m|en|heroin]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cheval-vapeur]]

+ * [[chevalet]]

+ * [[queue-de-cheval]]

+ * [[chevaler]]

+ * [[chevalier]]

+ * [[chevalerie]]

+ * [[chevalin]]

+ * [[chevau-léger]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cavalerie]]

+ * [[cavalier]]

+ * [[chevaleresque]]

+ * [[chevaucher]]

+ * [[équin]]

+ * [[équitation]]

+ * [[jument]]

+ * [[la|caballus]]

+ * [[la|equus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The proverb ''à cheval donné on ne regarde pas la bride'' corresponds to English “don't look a gift horse in the mouth”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}