debut English · revision 1909

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɛbjuː/, /ˈdeɪbjuː/ ''(UK)''; /deɪˈbjuː/, /dəˈbjuː/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|début|t=first appearance]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''débuter'' “to make the first stroke in a game”,^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) also “to lead off at bowls”,^(Etymonline) from ''dé-'' and ''but'' “mark, goal”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[butt]] in the sense of a target.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A first appearance in society or before the public, as of an actor or other performer (1751).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The game sense of the French verb was used figuratively for a first appearance.^(Etymonline) The verb is recorded in English from 1830,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and the related [[debutante]], for a young woman making her entrance into society, from 1801.^(Barnhart 1995) Today the verb is also used of introducing products and publications.^(RHWU)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1751 – a first appearance in public or society.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1801 – ''debutante''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1830 – verb, to make one's debut.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A first public appearance, as of a [[performer]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The formal presentation of a young woman to [[society]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The beginning of a course of action or career.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # The first appearance of something, such as a new product or a [[film]].^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a first appearance.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To present or introduce to the public for the first time.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[debutant]]

+ * [[debutante]]

+ * [[butt]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD notes that the verb is well established for the performing arts, but that its use for other introductions, such as of products or publications, is not entirely accepted, probably because it sounds like show-business publicity.^(AHD) British English tends to say ''on one's debut'' where North American English says ''in one's debut''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}