gazette English · revision 1979

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɡəˈzɛt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|gazette]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|it|gazzetta]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Venetian ''gazeta'',^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) a small coin,^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) literally “little magpie”, a diminutive of ''gazza'' “magpie”.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A news-sheet or periodical giving an account of current events (1605; about 1598 in Merriam-Webster).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century the government in Venice published a monthly news-sheet, and it was named either for the coin it cost or for the magpie, a bird associated with idle chatter, or both.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) In English the word was first used in 1665 for the paper issued at Oxford, where the court had fled from the plague.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) This became ''The London Gazette'', one of the official journals listing appointments, promotions and bankruptcies.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) The verb, to announce in such a gazette, dates from 1678,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and ''to be gazetted'' meant to be named to a command.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1605 – a news-sheet.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1665 – the official ''Oxford'' (later ''London'') ''Gazette''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1678 – verb, to publish in a gazette.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1702 – a newsmonger (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1801 – a report in an official gazette.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A newspaper (now chiefly in titles).^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An official journal publishing government appointments and public notices.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' To announce or publish in an official gazette.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[gazetteer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[magpie]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}