tour French · revision 17408

+ French has three words spelled ''tour'': the feminine ''la tour'' “tower”, from Latin ''turris'', and two masculine nouns, ''le tour'' “lathe”, from Latin ''tornus'', and ''le tour'' “turn, round”, formed on the verb [[tourner]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|tower}}

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tuʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tour''' ''f'' (plural tours)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|tur]] (1080), ''tor'', ''tour'' from the 12th century.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The tower is [[inh|fro|tur]], [[inh|la|turris|t=tower; siege tower; house of several storeys]], accusative “turrem”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|13/2, 435a)^(Wiktionary) The Latin word is generally held to be borrowed from [[grc|τύρσις|tr=túrsis]], also “túrrhis”, itself thought to come from another Indo-European language; it may also have come from Asia Minor through the Etruscans, whose Latin name “Tyrrhēnī” has been compared with “turris”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|torre]], [[oc|tor]] and [[es|torre]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) as ''tur'', a fortified building.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until the 16th century the word was used only of military towers; it then spread to any tall building (1580), as in ''la tour de Babel'' (Montaigne), and to a flat-topped bell tower (1636).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) A mobile siege engine was called a ''tour'' in 1538–1539, and in 1611 (Cotgrave) the word replaced ''roc'' for the rook in chess, first as a masculine, then feminine (1690).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Of a very stout person it is found in 1669.^(TLFi)

+

+ ''Tour d'ivoire'' “ivory tower”, for an aloof retreat, is Sainte-Beuve's (1830–1831).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In the 20th century it named technical structures, such as the ''tour de contrôle'' (about 1949) and ''tour de forage'' (about 1960), and tall blocks of flats or offices, tending to replace ''gratte-ciel'' and ''building''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * 12th century – ''Tourelle''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1539 – A siege tower.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – ''Tour de Babel'' in Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1611 – The rook in chess, in Cotgrave.^(TLFi)

+ * 1831 – ''Tour d'ivoire'' in Sainte-Beuve.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1949 – ''Tour de contrôle''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|tower]]: ''la tour d'un château'', ''la tour Eiffel''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A tall block of flats or offices, a [[m|en|high-rise]].^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A tall technical structure: ''tour de contrôle'', ''tour de forage''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(chess)'' The [[m|en|rook]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Tour d'ivoire'': an ivory tower.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tourelle]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|lathe}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 11th century, Rashi (torn)|origins=grc τόρνος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tuʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tour''' ''m'' (plural tours)^(Wiktionary)

+ ''Torn'' (late 11th century), then ''tor'' and ''tour'' (about 1175).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The lathe is [[inh|fro|tor]], [[inh|la|tornus|t=lathe, turner's tool]], borrowed from [[grc|τόρνος|tr=tórnos|t=lathe; compasses; turning]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|13/2, 80b) The Greek technical word, which also meant a rounded form and a circular movement, is related to [[m|grc|τείρω|tr=teírō|t=to wear out, distress]], from an Indo-European root “*ter-” “to wear by rubbing”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) The verb [[tourner]] comes from the Latin derivative “tornāre”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found as ''torn'' at the end of the 11th century in Rashi's glosses, meaning a winch or wheel, as of a well.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the winch the word passed to the crank used to bend a crossbow (''arbaleste a tor'', about 1176), a spinning wheel (1369) and a reel (about 1600).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) From the end of the 12th century it named the device for shaping wood and ivory, whence ''fait a tour'' (1406–1414), today ''fait au tour'' “beautifully made” (1671–1672).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The potter's wheel is recorded in 1723, and the word then followed the machine tool.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ From the 16th century, first in convents, ''tour'' named a revolving cupboard set in a wall to pass things through (1549), later the one at foundling hospitals where abandoned babies were left (1842); the pastry cook's thick table is a ''tour'' from 1680.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 11th century – ''Torn'' “winch” in Rashi.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1176 – ''Arbaleste a tor'' in Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1260 – ''Tournées à tour'', in Étienne Boileau.^(TLFi)

+ * 1549 – A revolving hatch, in Robert Estienne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – The pastry cook's table, in Richelet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1723 – ''Tour de potier''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|lathe]]: ''travailler au tour''; a potter's wheel.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Fait au tour'': perfectly shaped.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A revolving hatch in a wall, as in convents.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(pastry)'' A marble table for rolling out pastry.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[touret]]

+ * [[tourer]]

+ * [[tourier]]

+

+ {{homograph|3|turn}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=c. 1100 (tor)|origins=la tornō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tuʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tour''' ''m'' (plural tours)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''tor'' (1080).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The turn is a noun formed on Old French [[m|fro|torner]] (see [[tourner]]), from [[la|tornō|t=to turn on a lathe]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary) It partly followed the development of the verb's senses.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found as ''tor'' in 1080 in the sense “about-turn”.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It then expressed a movement round on oneself, of an object (about 1175) or the body (about 1200), whence ''tour de main'' (1440–1475), ''à tour de bras'' (1510) and ''tour de reins'' (1640).^(DHLF 1992) It meant a walk or journey and the circumference of a place (about 1200), ''faire un tour'' (1226) and ''faire le tour de'' (late 16th century); from 1690 a traveller's circuit, a sense that passed through English ''tour'' to give [[touriste]] and [[tourisme]].^(DHLF 1992) The ''tour de France'' of journeymen is recorded in 1798, and the cycle race has been held since 1903.^(DHLF 1992)

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+ From about 1175 ''tour'' meant a skilful or cunning act, whence ''jouer un vilain tour'' (about 1275), a feat shown in public (about 1310) and ''tour de cartes''; it also meant a turn of phrase (1669).^(DHLF 1992) Also from about 1175 it meant one's turn in a sequence, as in ''à tour de rôle'' and ''chacun son tour''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1080 – ''Tor'' “about-turn”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * c. 1175 – A trick; one's turn.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1200 – A walk; the circumference of a place.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1310 – A feat shown in public.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1510 – ''À tour de bras''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1690 – A traveller's circuit.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1798 – ''Tour de France'' of journeymen.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1903 – The Tour de France cycle race.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|turn]], a rotation; a lap: ''un tour de piste''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Larousse)

+ # A walk, a trip; a [[m|en|tour]]: ''faire un tour'', ''faire le tour du monde''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # The circumference or outline of something: ''tour de taille''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Larousse)

+ # One's turn: ''c'est ton tour'', ''à tour de rôle''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A trick or feat; a prank: ''un tour de magie'', ''jouer un tour''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A turn of phrase; a turn of events: ''tour de phrase''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[demi-tour]]

+ * [[autour]]

+ * [[alentour]]

+ * [[pourtour]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tourner]]

+ * [[touriste]]

+ * [[tournure]]

+ * [[la|turris]]

+ * [[la|tornus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}