protection English · revision 3035

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=la prōtegō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /prəˈtek.ʃᵊn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|proteccioun]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|proteccion|t=protection, shield]],^(Etymonline) and directly [[der|la-lat|prōtēctiō|t=a covering over]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) a noun of action from [[m|la|prōtegere|t=to protect, cover in front]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|prō|t=before]] and [[m|la|tegere|t=to cover]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*(s)teg-|t=to cover]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Shelter, defence, keeping, guardianship: the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and about 1375 in the OED.^(OED 1989) A document guaranteeing protection or immunity to its bearer is in the OED from 1312.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “That which protects” is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In medieval England it was also the support of a lord or patron, and to put someone ''out of protection'' was to take away the security of the kingdom's laws.^(Etymonline) From 1677 it was a euphemism for keeping a mistress.^(OED 1989) The economic sense, fostering a country's industries with duties on foreign goods, is from 1789.^(Etymonline) The underworld sense, freedom from harm in return for money paid to the threatener, is from 1860,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the protection of wild animals and places by law from 1880, at first of wild birds in Britain.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A condom or other contraceptive is a modern sense.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1312 – a letter of protection.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – shelter, defence.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – that which protects.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1677 – keeping of a mistress.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1789 – protection of home industries.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1860 – money paid to racketeers.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1880 – legal protection of wildlife.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of protecting, or the state of being protected.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Someone or something that protects.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A document guaranteeing safe-conduct to travellers.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A system of [[tariff|alt=tariffs]] protecting home producers from foreign competition.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Money [[extort|alt=extorted]] by racketeers in return for not causing harm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A [[contraceptive]] device such as a [[condom]].^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[protectional]]

+ * [[protectionist]]

+ * [[overprotection]]

+ * [[nonprotection]]

+ * [[protectionism]]

+ * [[radioprotection]]

+ * [[self-protection]]

+ * [[copy protection]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[protect]]

+ * [[protective]]

+ * [[protector]]

+ * [[protectorate]]

+ * [[thatch]]

+ * [[tegument]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}