claquer French · revision 17543

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=1508, Jean Lemaire de Belges}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kla.ke/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''claquer'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from an onomatopoeia imitating a sharp, sudden noise (see [[claque]], [[clac]]).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007) Littré compared [[nl|klakken]];^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary derives the French verb from [[dum|klacken|t=to clack, crack]].^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Jean Lemaire de Belges (1508) speaks of birds ''claquans du bec'', clacking their beaks.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Scarron (1648) uses it for “to slap”, and in the 18th century it meant to applaud a play or an author (1732 according to the BHVF, Diderot in the TLFi), the origin of ''claque'', the hired applause.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Many familiar senses are from the 19th century: “to eat greedily” (1848), “to squander” (''il a tout claqué'', 1861), and “to die” (1842–1859).^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007) Zola (1892) has ''claquer'' for exhausting someone, and ''se claquer un muscle'' “to tear a muscle” is found in 1902.^(BHVF)

+

+ Common uses are ''claquer la porte'', ''claquer des dents'' “to shiver” and, figuratively, ''l'affaire lui a claqué dans les doigts''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1508 – ''Claquans du bec'', in Jean Lemaire de Belges.^(TLFi)

+ * 1648 – “To slap”, in Scarron.^(TLFi)

+ * 1732 – “To applaud”.^(BHVF)

+ * 1848 – “To eat greedily”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1859 – “To die”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1861 – “To squander”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1902 – ''Se claquer'' (a muscle).^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To make a sharp noise; to [[m|en|bang]], flap, crack: ''un volet qui claque'', ''un drapeau qui claque au vent''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Claquer des dents'': to [[m|en|chatter|alt=chatter]] with cold or fear, ''claquer des doigts'', to snap one's fingers.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To slam (a door); to slap (someone).^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(familiar)'' To [[m|en|squander]] (money): ''il a tout claqué''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar, intransitive)'' To die; to break, give way: ''l'affaire lui a claqué dans les doigts''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''(familiar)'' To wear out, ''se claquer un muscle'', to pull a muscle.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[claquement]]

+ * [[claquette]]

+ * [[claqueur]]

+ * [[claquemurer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[clac]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate verb ''claquer'' “to fit (a shoe) with a ''claque''”, a leather upper, is a shoemakers' term derived from ''claque'' “sandal” (Littré 1863).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}