doldrums English · revision 2459

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɒldɹəmz/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdɑldɹəmz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably from obsolete ''dold'' “dull, stupid”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) a form of ''dulled'', the past participle of [[dull]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) with an ending perhaps modelled on [[tantrum]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Merriam-Webster relates it to Old English ''dol'' “foolish”.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Low spirits, the dumps (by 1803).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a dull, listless mood, the word passed by 1824 to sailing ships that were becalmed and unable to make headway.^(Etymonline) In nautical use it was then extended to the belt of ocean near the equator where calms, squalls and light, shifting winds are common (1848).^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) From these senses came the general meaning “a period of stagnation or slump”.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * by 1803 – low spirits.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1811 – first date given by Merriam-Webster and Barnhart.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * by 1824 – the becalmed state of a sailing ship.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1848 – the region of calms near the equator.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A period of stagnation, inactivity or slump.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A period of depression or listlessness.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' A region of the ocean near the equator with calms and light, shifting winds; also the weather typical of it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dull]]

+ * [[dolt]]

+ * [[tantrum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}