band English · revision 1867

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1126|origins=ine-pro *bʰendʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bænd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The word combines several sources.^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1995) In the sense of something that binds it is [[inh|enm|band]], [[m|enm|bond]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|non|band|t=cord that binds]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) from [[gem-pro|*bandą]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|gem-pro|*bindaną|t=to bind]], from [[ine-pro|*bʰendʰ-|t=to bind]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) It replaced the native [[ang|bend|t=bond, fetter]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The sense of a flat strip came in the late 14th century from [[fro|bande]], earlier [[m|fro|bende|t=strip, edge, side]], of Germanic origin from the same root.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(SOED 2002) The sense of a group came in the late 15th century from [[frm|bande|t=troop]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) probably from [[pro|banda]],^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) of Germanic origin, related to [[got|𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌰|tr=bandwa|t=sign, standard]] and to [[banner]];^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Klein 1966) the troop may have been named from a band of cloth worn as a mark by soldiers,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) or from the banner under which it fought.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) Random House derives this ''band'' through Italian ''banda''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Something that binds: a shackle, chain or fetter (1126 in Barnhart; c. 1200 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The binding senses (a fetter, a string tying sheaves, a hinge) came first,^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) and most figurative ones, such as a legal or moral obligation, later passed to ''[[bond]]'', which began as a variant of ''band''.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The sense of a flat strip of material came from French in the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and the two words merged in English once the final ''-e'' was lost.^(Etymonline) A band was soon also a stripe of colour (1470) and, from 1552, a strip forming part of a garment;^(HTOED)^(Barnhart 1995) from 1568 it named a shirt's collar, and in the plural the two strips hanging from the collar of clerical, legal or academic dress.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)^(Skeat & Mayhew 1914) The electronics sense, a range of frequencies or wavelengths, dates from 1922.^(Etymonline) The group sense first meant an organized company of armed men, robbers or the like (1490, in Caxton).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A band of musicians is recorded from about 1660,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) at first the musicians attached to an army regiment, who played instruments that could be carried on the march.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) In North America a band is also a herd or flock (1824).^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The phrase ''to beat the band'', to drown out its noise and so to surpass everything, dates from 1897.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1126 – something that binds (Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1200 – a fetter, shackle (OED).^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – a flat strip; a stripe of colour.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1490 – an organized company of armed men.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – as a verb, to unite in a group.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1552 – a strip forming part of a garment.^(Barnhart 1995)^(HTOED)

+ * 1568 – a collar; later, the ''bands'' of clerical dress.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * c. 1660 – a company of musicians.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1824 – a herd or flock (North America).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1914 – to fit a bird with an identifying band.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1922 – a range of frequencies.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thin, flat strip of flexible material used to encircle, bind or hold things together.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # A [[stripe]] or strip that differs in colour or texture from what surrounds it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A strip of fabric used to trim, finish or strengthen clothing; a [[collar]], and in the plural the two strips hanging from a cleric's or lawyer's collar.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A plain ring, especially a [[wedding ring]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Something that binds or restrains morally or legally; a [[bond]] (archaic).^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A range of values, such as [[frequency|alt=frequencies]] or wavelengths, between two limits.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004)

+ # A group of people acting together, such as a body of armed men or outlaws.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A group of animals; in North America, a herd or flock.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A group of [[musician]]s who play together, especially on wind and [[percussion]] instruments, or a rock or pop group.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To tie, bind or encircle with a band.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To mark with a band or stripe; to fit a bird or animal with an identifying band.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To unite or join together in a group (often with ''together'').^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To group or rank people, such as pupils or taxpayers, into bands.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bander]]

+ * [[bandless]]

+ * [[bandmaster]]

+ * [[bandmate]]

+ * [[bandsman]]

+ * [[bandstand]]

+ * [[bandwagon]]

+ * [[big band]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bind]]

+ * [[bond]]

+ * [[bend]]

+ * [[banner]]

+ * [[bandage]]

+ * [[bandanna]]

+ * [[disband]]

+ * [[ribbon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}