call English · revision 2039

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=ine-pro *gal-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔːl/, US also /kɑːl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|callen]], probably [[bor|non|kalla|t=to cry loudly, summon; to name]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024)^(COED 2004) from [[gem-pro|*kallōjanan]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*gal-|t=to call, shout]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Old English had a rare native [[m|ang|ceallian|t=to shout]], and [[m|ang|-calla]] in [[m|ang|hildecalla|t=war herald]], which may have contributed to the Middle English verb;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(RHWU) the usual Old English word for calling was [[m|ang|clipian]], the source of [[clepe]] and [[yclept]].^(Etymonline) Related words are [[gml|kallen]], [[nl|kallen|t=to talk]], [[goh|kallōn|t=to talk loudly, chatter]], [[cy|galw|t=to call]] and [[cu|гласъ|tr=glasŭ|t=voice]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To cry out, and to summon, ask for or give a name to (mid-13th century).^(Etymonline) Barnhart dates the Middle English verb probably about 1200.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Making a short visit was originally “to stand at the door and call”.^(Etymonline) The sense “to summon to a way of life” is probably before 1250, and it gave ''calling'' “occupation” (1551).^(Barnhart 1988) ''Call up'' “to summon” is mid-15th century, ''call for'' “to demand, require” 1530s, ''call back'' “to revoke” 1550s and ''call names'' 1590s.^(Etymonline) Card players called for the hands to be shown from the 1670s, and in poker ''call'' “to match a bet” is by 1889,^(Etymonline) while calling heads or tails is from 1801.^(Etymonline) The telephone sense of the verb dates from 1882 and of the noun from 1878.^(Etymonline) ''Call off'' “to cancel” is by 1888, earlier “to summon away” (1630s).^(Etymonline) The noun meant a loud cry and a summons in the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) a military summons by bugle or drum from the 1580s, a bird's cry from the 1680s and a short formal visit from 1862,^(Etymonline) and “duty, occasion” (''no call for that'') from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) ''Call the tune'' is dated from the late 17th century, though the full proverb ''he who pays the piper calls the tune'' is recorded only from the late 19th,^(Cresswell 2021) and ''call the shots'' (1920s) comes from games such as pool, where a player names a shot in advance.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''-calla'', in ''hildecalla'', war herald.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – Middle English ''callen''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-13th century – to cry out, summon, name.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1250 – ''calling'', a summons to a way of life.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – noun, a loud cry or a summons.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1435 – ''caller''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – ''call up''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – ''call for'', to demand.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1551 – ''calling'', occupation.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1580s – noun, a military summons by bugle or drum.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – ''call names''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – in cards, to demand that the hands be shown.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1680s – noun, a bird's cry.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1801 – calling heads or tails.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1862 – noun, a short formal visit.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1878 – noun, a telephone call.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1882 – verb, to telephone.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1888 – ''call off'', to cancel.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – in poker, to match a bet.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To say loudly or shout, especially to attract attention.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To ask or order to come; [[summon]]: ''call a doctor''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To arrange or announce (a meeting or strike).^(AHD)

+ # To [[telephone]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To pay a short visit: ''she called on him''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give a name to; describe as: ''they called him Tom''.^(Etymonline)

+ # Of an animal or bird, to make its typical cry.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To summon to an office or [[vocation]]: ''called to the ministry''.^(Collins 2023)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # ''(poker)'' To match a bet.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A loud cry; a shout.^(AHD)

+ # The cry of an animal, or a device imitating it.^(AHD)

+ # A telephone conversation or connection.^(AHD)

+ # A short visit.^(AHD)

+ # Need or reason: ''no call for rudeness''.^(AHD)

+ # Demand: ''little call for it''.^(AHD)

+ # A summons or invitation; a vocation.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[birdcall]]

+ * [[callboard]]

+ * [[catcall]]

+ * [[overcall]]

+ * [[call-out]]

+ * [[call-up]]

+ * [[callboy]]

+ * [[altar call]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[recall]]

+ * [[clepe]]

+ * [[yclept]]

+ * [[calling]]

+ * [[caller]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Call is the general word for asking someone to come;^(RHWU) [[invite]] asks courteously, leaving the person free to refuse, and [[summon]] uses authority or formality.^(RHWU) Other near-synonyms are [[convene]], [[convoke]] and [[muster]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}