zet Dutch · revision 37325

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1539|origins=nl zetten}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /zɛt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''zet''' ''m'' (plural zetten, diminutive zetje n)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a noun of action from the verb [[zetten]] “to set, place, put”, as the WNT, Franck and Van Wijk, and the ANW explain.^(WNT)^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(ANW)^(Wiktionary) Kiliaan's dictionary of 1599 does not list it in the modern sense, but Middle Dutch may already have had ⟨set⟩ in a few technical meanings, such as the quantity of beer tapped at one time.^(Franck & Van Wijk 1912)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The WNT's oldest quotation, of 1539, uses ''setten'' for nets placed across a river to catch eels, a Frisian sense.^(WNT) The sense “sudden push, quick movement” follows in 1611, in ''met een set'', “all at once, at one go”.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 17th century ''zet'' was used of any quick, forceful action, in phrases such as ''met één zet'' “suddenly, at once” and ''metter zet'' “in a hurry”.^(WNT) Figuratively it became a sharp, cutting remark, a dig: a writer of 1784 speaks of ''Satirique zetten''.^(WNT)

+

+ In chess and draughts ''zet'' is a move of a piece: ''een zet doen'' is recorded in 1792, and ''aan zet zijn'', “to have the move”, in 1811.^(WNT) From the game it passed to a calculated step in other affairs, a clever or cunning move, and to a witty saying.^(WNT)^(Van Dale 2014) The diminutive ''zetje'' is a small push, also figuratively, as in ''iemand een zetje geven'', to help someone along.^(Van Dale 2014)

+

+ Indonesian has [[m|id|sét]] for a chess move, and Sranan Tongo [[m|srn|sèt]] for a move in chess or draughts.^(Van der Sijs 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1539 – ''Setten'' are fishing nets set across a stream.^(WNT)

+ * 1611 – ''Met een set'' “all at once”, the sense “push, quick movement”.^(WNT)

+ * 1784 – ''Satirique zetten'' “satirical digs”.^(WNT)

+ * 1792 – ''Een zet doen'', a move in chess.^(WNT)

+ * 1811 – ''Aan zet zijn'' “to have the move”.^(WNT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # a [[m|en|push]], [[m|en|shove]]: ''Met een flinke zet kreeg ze de kast van zijn plaats.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)

+ # a [[m|en|move]] of a piece in chess, draughts or another board game: ''Wit won in twintig zetten.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(Wiktionary)^(WNT)

+ # an action or statement meant to gain an advantage, a move: ''Die overname was een slimme zet.''^(Van Dale 2014)^(WNT)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[zetje]]

+ * [[meesterzet]]

+ * [[tegenzet]]

+ * [[foutzet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[zetten]]

+ * [[zitten]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Aan zet zijn'' is to have the move, also figuratively, to be the one who must act.^(Van Dale 2014) ''Herhaling van zetten'', “repetition of moves”, is a chess position repeated three times, which ends in a draw, and figuratively a dispute in which the same arguments keep coming back.^(Van Dale 2014) A separate West Flemish ''zet'' “backside, buttocks”, going back to [[odt|setti]] “settlement” and related to [[zitten]], is recorded since 1500 and still shows in ''zetpil'' “suppository”.^(WNT)^(Debrabandere 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}