corde French · revision 17605

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 10th century, Passion of Clermont|origins=grc χορδή}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔʁd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''corde''' ''f'' (plural cordes)^(Wiktionary)

+ First ''corda'' (late 10th century), then ''corde'' (1130–1140, Wace).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|chorda|t=gut string of an instrument; cord]], from [[grc|χορδή|tr=khordḗ|t=gut; string of gut]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary) Rey mentions the hypothesis that the Greek word comes from [[hit|karad-|t=intestines]].^(DHLF 1992) In Latin it passed from a musical term to a familiar synonym of [[m|la|fūnis|t=rope]], as early as Plautus, and replaced it; the Old French outcome of [[m|la|fūnis]], [[m|fro|fun]], disappeared very early.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Cognate with [[pro|corda]], [[it|corda]] and [[es|cuerda]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Passion'' of Clermont (late 10th century) has ''corda'' for strands of textile twisted together.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The uses followed those of the thing.^(DHLF 1992) About 1165 it named a bowstring, and about 1175 the hangman's rope, whence ''la corde'' for hanging (1612) and the proverb about not speaking of rope in the house of a hanged man (Sévigné, 1680).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) It meant the string of a musical instrument from the 11th century, and it also names the vocal cords.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary) The tightrope of acrobats is recorded in 1531, the skipping rope in 1837 (''corde à danser'' in Quebec), the rail of a racecourse in 1855, whence ''tenir la corde'' (1869), and the ropes of mountaineers (1868) and boxers (1904).^(DHLF 1992) In geometry the chord of an arc is in Furetière (1690).^(TLFi) ''Avoir deux cordes à son arc'' is found before 1300, ''la corde sensible'' in 1835, and Sévigné writes ''on voit la corde'', the threads show, in 1672.^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 10th century – ''Corda'' in the ''Passion''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1165 – A bowstring.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1175 – The hangman's rope.^(TLFi)

+ * 1531 – A tightrope.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1680 – The proverb of the hanged man's house, in Sévigné.^(BHVF)

+ * 1690 – The chord of an arc, in Furetière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1837 – ''Corde à sauter''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1869 – ''Tenir la corde''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|rope|alt=rope]]: strands twisted or plaited together: ''corde de chanvre'', ''échelle de corde''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # The rope used for hanging; the gallows: ''mériter la corde''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # A [[m|en|string]] of a musical instrument, ''instruments à cordes'', string instruments, ''toucher la corde sensible'', to strike a chord.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Cordes vocales'': the vocal [[m|en|cord|alt=cords]].^(Wiktionary)

+ # A tightrope; a skipping rope: ''sauter à la corde''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(racing)'' The rail, ''tenir la corde'', to have the inside track, to be the favourite.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(geometry)'' A [[m|en|chord]].^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Il pleut des cordes'': it is raining heavily, ''usé jusqu'à la corde'': threadbare, ''avoir plus d'une corde à son arc'': to have more than one string to one's bow.^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cordage]]

+ * [[cordeau]]

+ * [[cordelette]]

+ * [[corder]]

+ * [[cordée]]

+ * [[cordon]]

+ * [[cordier]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|chorda]]

+ * [[en|cord]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}