giro Italian · revision 37683

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=second half of the 13th century|origins=grc γῦρος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈd͡ʒi.ro/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''giro''' ''m'' (plural giri)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|gyrus|alt=gȳrus|t=circle, ring]], from the accusative ⟨gyrum⟩, [[bor|grc|γῦρος|tr=gûros|t=circle]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Devoto traces the Latin word to the language of horsemanship.^(Devoto 1968|204) DELI finds the further Indo-European relations of the Greek word unclear.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The word is continued in [[oc|gir]], [[es|giro]] and [[pt|giro]], while French has it only in compounds; [[ro|giur]] points to a form ⟨giurus⟩.^(DEI|1816)^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The verb [[girare]] comes separately from [[la|gyrō|alt=gyrāre]], a verb formed from the noun.^(DELI 1999)

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+ Some modern uses are calques: the word for a stage race translates [[fr|tour]], after the Tour de France (from 1903), and the phrase for “general survey” follows the French phrase with the same noun, first a nautical term.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT and Nocentini date the word to the second half of the 13th century.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010) DELI's first record is in Bono Giamboni, before 1292, in the sense “circuit, round, ring”;^(DELI 1999) the GDLI quotes him on Carthage, which ''era di giro ventidua miglia'' “was twenty-two miles round”.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “rotation, turn about an axis” is in Dante (before 1321), “journey” in a 14th-century translation of Livy, and “period of time” in Arrighetto (1304–1313).^(DELI 1999) In 1622 Paolo Contarini used it for the circulation of money and goods, and before 1793 it also meant the transfer of credit between accounts.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT) German had borrowed ''Giro'' as a banking term about 1600, and English took the banking sense from German.^(DIFIT)

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+ Figurative senses came later: a set of activities or dealings (1887) and a circle of people, often in illegal business (1970).^(DELI 1999) The sporting ''giro'' appears in 1923, with the ''Giro d'Italia'', modelled on the Tour de France.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT) The phrases ''giro di boa'' “turning point” and ''giro d'orizzonte'' “general survey” come from the language of sailors, and ''su di giri'' “excited” and ''giù di giri'' “low” from the revolutions of an engine.^(DELI 1999)

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+ English used ''giro'' (''gyro'') for “a tour, a journey” from the 17th century.^(DIFIT)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''giro'' for the circuit of a city.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1313 – Arrighetto uses it for a period of time.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for rotation.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – A translation of Livy uses it for a journey.^(DELI 1999)

+ * c. 1600 – German borrows ''Giro'' as a banking term.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1622 – Paolo Contarini uses it for the circulation of money.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1670 – The OED's first record of English ''giro'' “tour”.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1923 – ''Giro'' is used for a cycling race in stages.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1970 – Zingarelli records ''giro'' for a ring of people in shady business.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The line around a round body or space; [[m|en|circumference]], perimeter: ''il giro del lago''; also the armhole of a garment (''giro manica'').^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Each turn of a tape or rope wound round something; a string of pearls or beads.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # [[m|en|rotation]], a turn about an axis: ''due giri di chiave''; the revolutions of an engine, ''un disco a 45 giri'', a 45 rpm record.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A stroll or short trip; a [[m|en|tour]] along a set route: ''fare un giro in bicicletta'', ''il giro del mondo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(sports)'' A lap; a cycling race in stages: ''il Giro d'Italia''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A round of actions with the same purpose; a round in card games; a turn: ''saltare un giro''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A period of time: ''nel giro di un mese''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The circulation of money or goods.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A circle of people who see each other or work in the same field; a [[m|en|ring]], especially an illegal one.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(knitting)'' A row of stitches.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[girello]]

+ * [[girone]]

+ * [[giretto]]

+ * [[girotondo]]

+ * [[aggirare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[girare]]

+ * [[raggirare]]

+ * [[la|gyrus]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases include ''prendere in giro'' “to make fun of”, ''in giro'' “around”, ''giro di parole'' “roundabout way of saying something” and ''giro di vite'' “tightening of the screw”.^(Wiktionary)^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}