peter English · revision 2819

+ English has two words spelled ''peter'': the verb of ''peter out'', of unknown origin, and slang nouns taken from the name ''Peter''.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpiː.tə/, US /ˈpiː.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|dwindle}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|formation=coinage|attested=1812}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb meaning “to dwindle” is of unknown origin.^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline calls it colloquial and of uncertain origin,^(Etymonline) and the SOED compares the noun from the name Peter for some of its senses.^(SOED 2002) Green suggests either the phrase peter out itself or French péter “to explode weakly”, though the cant verb appears earlier.^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To cease, stop”: 1812, as slang,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) with a cant use from 1753 meaning “hold your tongue”, among other things.^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Peter out'', “to become exhausted, give out”, is American miners' slang from 1846, at first of a vein of ore.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) From mining it spread to anything that diminishes gradually and comes to an end.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1753 – cant, to stop.^(GDoS)

+ * 1812 – to cease, stop.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1846 – ''peter out'', of a mine.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # Usually ''peter out'': to diminish gradually and come to an end; to [[dwindle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To become exhausted.^(AHD)

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+ {{homograph|2|from the name Peter}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=eponym|attested=1665|origins=grc Πέτρος}}

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The nouns are from the name [[Peter]],^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-lat|Petrus]], from [[grc|Πέτρος|tr=Pétros]], from [[m|grc|πέτρος|tr=pétros|t=stone, rock]],^(Klein 1966)^(Etymonline) a translation of Syriac kefa “stone”, Latinized as Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon.^(Etymonline) The name was used in many transferred senses in English from late Middle English.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In thieves' cant, a portmanteau, trunk or bundle: 1665, in Head's ''English Rogue'',^(GDoS) 1668 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A safe, cash box or till is criminals' slang from 1859,^(OED 1989) and a ''peterman'' was a safe-breaker.^(GDoS) The penis is slang from 1870 in Green,^(GDoS) and 1902 in Etymonline and the New Partridge,^(Etymonline)^(Dalzell 2013) probably from the first syllable.^(Etymonline) In American tramps' slang a peter was also drugged liquor, a knockout drop.^(GDoS) In bridge, a ''peter'' is a signal to one's partner, from [[blue peter]], the signal flag for sailing.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1665 – a trunk or bundle (cant).^(GDoS)

+ * 1859 – a safe or till.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1870 – the penis.^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(slang)'' A [[safe]] or cash box; formerly, a trunk or bundle.^(OED 1989)^(GDoS)

+ # ''(slang, often vulgar)'' The [[penis]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In [[bridge]], a signal for a partner to continue a suit.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[peterman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Peter]]

+ * [[petrify]]

+ * [[petroleum]]

+ * [[petrous]]

+ * [[blue peter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The name ''Peter'' was very common among Christians;^(Etymonline) its usual medieval English form was Peres or Piers.^(Etymonline) The phrase ''rob Peter to pay Paul'' is from about 1400,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and ''the Peter principle'', that employees rise to the level of their incompetence, from 1968, after Laurence J. Peter.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}