dingue French · revision 17551

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=back-formation|attested=1915}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɛ̃ɡ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dingue''' (plural dingues)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) The TLFi takes it as probably a back-formation [[der|fr|dinguer|t=to stagger about; to wander]], and compares an argot word for malaria (1890).^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary) The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert suggest instead [[dengue]], the tropical fever, or the verb; the GLLF derives it from [[dingo]] “crazy”, and Wiktionary also mentions [[divaguer]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Esnault records ''pas dingue'' in 1915, in soldiers' slang;^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) Barbusse has ''t'es pas dingue, non ?'' in ''Le Feu'' (1916).^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In hospital slang it was said of a mental patient, adjective and noun, as in ''chez les dingues''.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005) In general familiar use it means “mad, crazy”, often weakened: ''un doux dingue'' is a harmless eccentric.^(TLFi)^(Larousse) It also came to mean “extraordinary, incredible”, of a price, a party or a spectacle, as in ''c'est dingue !''^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1890 – Argot ''la dingue'' “malaria”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1915 – ''Pas dingue'', in soldiers' slang.^(TLFi)

+ * 1916 – In Barbusse's ''Le Feu''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(familiar)'' [[m|en|crazy|alt=Crazy]], [[m|en|nuts]]: ''il est complètement dingue''.^(Le Robert)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' Incredible, amazing; excessive: ''une soirée dingue'', ''des prix dingues'', ''c'est dingue !''^(Le Robert)^(Larousse)

+ # ''Dingue de'': mad about, crazy about.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(familiar)'' A lunatic, a nutcase: ''une maison de dingues'', ''un doux dingue'', a harmless eccentric.^(Larousse)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dinguer]]

+ * [[dingo]]

+ * [[dinguerie]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}