beach English · revision 2854

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1535}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /biːtʃ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin.^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline, following Barnhart, takes it as a dialect survival, [[inh|ang|bæċe|t=stream, brook]], beċe,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*bakiz]], the source of Dutch beek, German Bach and Swedish bäck “brook”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) perhaps from [[ine-pro|*bʰog-|alt=*bhog-]], a root for flowing water.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The sense may have passed through “pebbly river valley”.^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) The Old English word survives in place names such as Wisbech and Sandbach,^(NODE 1998) and the Norse form gave [[beck]].^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster calls the origin unknown.^(MWU 2024) The verb is from the noun.^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The loose, water-worn pebbles of the seashore, shingle: about 1535;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) the shore of the sea is from 1596, in Shakespeare's ''Merchant of Venice''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was extended from pebbles to pebbly shores in the 1590s, and in the 17th century to any seashore, whatever it was made of, especially the part between high and low tide.^(Etymonline) In Sussex and Kent dialect ''beach'' still meant the pebbles worn by the waves, which were used for road-making.^(Etymonline)^(Wright 1898)^(Hoad 1986) French grève shows the same development.^(Etymonline) Johnson (1755) defined it as the shore, “particularly that part that is dashed by the waves”.^(Johnson 1755) The verb, “to haul or run up on a beach”, is from 1814,^(Etymonline) 1840 in the OED.^(OED 1989) ''Beach ball'' is recorded by 1940, and ''beach bum'' by 1950.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1535 – shingle, pebbles.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – a pebbly shore.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1596 – the seashore.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1814 – verb, to run ashore.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1940 – ''beach ball''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1950 – ''beach bum''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The shore of the sea or a lake, especially when covered with [[sand]] or pebbles.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The sand or pebbles on a shore; [[shingle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To haul or run (a boat) up onto a beach.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a whale: to become stranded on a shore.^(SOED 2002)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[beachless]]

+ * [[unbeached]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[beck]]

+ * [[beachcomber]]

+ * [[beachhead]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Beach'' was an old spelling of the tree [[beech]].^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}