club English · revision 3532

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200 (Layamon)|origins=gem-pro *klumbō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /klʌb/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|clubbe]], [[bor|non|klubba|t=cudgel, club]] (also [[m|non|klumba]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*klumbō]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) whose -mb- was assimilated to -bb-.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Its cognates include Swedish [[m|sv|klubba|t=gavel]] and [[m|da|klubbe]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Barnhart traces it to [[ine-pro|*glembh-]].^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[clump]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A thick, heavy stick used as a weapon: probably before 1200, in Layamon,^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1205.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline notes that Old English used ''sagol'' and ''cycgel'' for this.^(Etymonline) A stick or bat used in ball games is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) later especially in golf.^(SOED 2002) The suit at cards is named from the 1560s, translating Spanish ''basto'' and Italian ''bastone'', though English cards use the French trefoil.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The verb meant “to beat with a club” from 1593,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and “to gather into a club-like mass” from the 1620s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) From this, according to Etymonline, came the noun “association of people” in the 1640s and “company organized to meet for social purposes” in the 1660s;^(Etymonline) ''Word Origins'' notes that it is not clear whether the sense comes from clumping together or from clubbing together to share costs, both of the mid-17th century.^(Cresswell 2021) John Aubrey wrote in 1659 that ''club'' was now used for a society meeting in a tavern.^(Etymonline) ''To club together'', “to share costs”, is from 1655.^(OED 1989) ''Join the club'' is by 1944.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – a heavy stick (Layamon).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – a stick for ball games.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560s – the suit at cards.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1593 – verb, to beat with a club.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – verb, to gather into a mass.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – an association of people.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1655 – verb, to share costs.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – a social club.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1944 – ''join the club''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A heavy stick, usually thicker at one end, used as a weapon; a [[cudgel]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A stick for hitting the ball in some games, especially [[golf]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A black [[trefoil]] on playing cards; a card or suit with this figure.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A group of people organized for a common purpose, or the place where they meet.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A [[nightclub]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To beat with a club.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To gather into a club-like mass.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To join or contribute for a common purpose.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[clubbish]]

+ * [[clubbable]]

+ * [[clubber]]

+ * [[clubby]]

+ * [[clubface]]

+ * [[clubhand]]

+ * [[clubhead]]

+ * [[clubman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[clump]]

+ * [[clubfoot]]

+ * [[nightclub]]

+ * [[clubhouse]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire a ''club feast'' or ''club walk'' was the annual festival of a benefit society.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}