bridge English · revision 3078

+ English has two words spelled ''bridge'': the structure over a river or road, a native word, and the card game, an alteration of ''biritch'', of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /brɪdʒ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|structure}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=gem-pro *brugjō}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The structure is [[inh|enm|brigge]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|brycg]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*brugjō]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*bhru-|t=log, beam]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is cognate with Old Frisian brigge, Dutch brug, German Brücke and Old Norse bryggja “gangway”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and probably with Gaulish brīva “bridge” and Old Church Slavonic brŭvŭno “beam”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The original idea was of a beam or log laid down for crossing.^(Etymonline) The verb is [[inh|ang|brycgian|t=to make a causeway]], from the noun.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A structure carrying a road over a river or ravine: about 1000, in Ælfric's ''Grammar''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The form ''brig'' remained in northern dialects.^(OED 1989) A drawbridge is from about 1205,^(OED 1989) and a landing stage or pier from about 1375.^(OED 1989) The bridge of a stringed instrument is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and the bony upper part of the nose from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The bridge of a ship, at first a narrow raised platform across a steamer between the paddle-boxes from which the officer gave orders, is from 1843.^(Etymonline) ''Cross that bridge when you come to it'' is from 1850.^(OED 1989) The verb is from probably about 750 in Old English,^(Barnhart 1988) and its figurative use, as in ''bridge the gap'', is by 1831.^(Etymonline) In Yorkshire and Lincolnshire dialect ''to bridge'' meant “to beat down the price”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – a bridge over a river.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1205 – a drawbridge.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – of a stringed instrument.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – the bridge of the nose.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1831 – figurative verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1843 – a ship's bridge.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – “cross the bridge when one comes to it”.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A structure carrying a road, path or railway over a river, road or other obstacle.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something that connects or links: ''a bridge between cultures''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The upper bony ridge of the nose; the part of a pair of glasses resting on it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A platform above the deck from which a ship is commanded.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A raised piece supporting the strings of a [[violin]] or similar instrument.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A fixed [[denture]] attached to neighbouring teeth.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(music)'' A passage linking two sections.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To build a bridge over; to [[span]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To cross or overcome: ''to bridge the gap''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bridgehead]]

+ * [[bridgework]]

+ * [[drawbridge]]

+ * [[footbridge]]

+ * [[suspension bridge]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|card game}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=1886}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The game is an alteration, influenced by [[bridge#1]], of earlier biritch,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a word of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) The OED thinks it probably Levantine, since a form of the game seems to have long been known in the Near East.^(Etymonline) One guess takes it from a Turkish phrase meaning “one, three”, because one hand is exposed and the other three concealed.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster suggests folk etymology: the dealer's passing the choice of trumps to his partner was seen as a “bridging” of the table.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ 1886, in the London pamphlet ''Biritch, or Russian Whist'', where biritch was a call of “no trumps”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The OED has a doubtful example from 1843.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The game was also called ''Russian whist'', attested in English from 1839.^(Etymonline) It was played in the Near East in the 1870s.^(Barnhart 1988) Later forms of the game include [[auction bridge]] and [[contract bridge]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1839 – ''Russian whist''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1843 – doubtful first example.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1886 – ''biritch''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A card game for four players in two partnerships, derived from [[whist]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brig]]

+ * [[pontoon]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In northern English and Irish dialect a ''bridge'' could also be a [[weighbridge]].^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}