casino Italian · revision 38140

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1584, Raffaello Borghini|origins=la casa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /kaˈzi.no/, /kaˈsi.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''casino''' ''m'' (plural casini)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed in [[af|it|casa|-ino]], a diminutive of the word for “house”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary) The base continues [[la|casa|t=hut, cottage]], of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) The same formation is [[pms|casin]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record, in Raffaello Borghini's ''Il Riposo'' (1584), is the sense “a small country house of the gentry”, the kind of building that stood in the grounds of princely villas.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|2, 835)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before 1665 Lorenzo Lippi used ''casino'' for a house where members met to read, gamble and talk, a club.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The sense “brothel” is recorded in 1706;^(DELI 1999) DELI notes that the earlier example from Cecchi quoted by the GDLI means a gambling house, not a brothel.^(DELI 1999) DEI also records the 17th-century senses “box in a theatre” and “sentry box”.^(DEI|792)

+

+ The colloquial sense “din, confusion” is recorded in 1917 in Antonio Baldini.^(DELI 1999) Later colloquial use added “a mess, a tricky situation”, “a great quantity” and the adverbial ''un casino'' “a lot”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|Supplemento 2009)

+

+ The word travelled abroad in its older senses.^(DIFIT)^(Etymonline) English ''casino'' (1744) first meant a public room for music or dancing; it is a building for gambling from about 1820, first in an Italian setting, and the card game from 1792.^(Etymonline) French took ''casino'' in 1740 and ''casin'' in 1772, and German ''Kasino'' (1775) named an Italian club and later an officers' mess.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1584 – Raffaello Borghini uses ''casino'' for a country house of the gentry.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1665 – Lorenzo Lippi uses it for a club for reading, gaming and conversation.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1706 – The sense “brothel” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1740 – French ''casino'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1744 – English ''casino'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1775 – German ''Kasino'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1917 – Antonio Baldini uses ''casino'' for “din, confusion”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small country house of the gentry, used especially for [[caccia|alt=hunting]] or fishing: ''casino di caccia''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(historical)'' A club, a meeting place for reading and conversation: ''casino dei nobili''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(rare)'' A gambling house, a [[casinò]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(vulgar)'' A [[bordello|alt=brothel]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A [[m|en|mess]], disorder; noise, a racket: ''Stanotte i vicini hanno fatto casino fino alle tre.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A muddle, a tricky situation; a fuss: ''Si è cacciato in un casino con le tasse.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A great quantity: ''C'era un casino di traffico in tangenziale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial, un casino)'' Very much, a lot: ''Quel comico mi fa ridere un casino.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[incasinare]]

+ * [[casinista]]

+ * [[casinaro]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[casa]]

+ * [[casinò]]

+ * [[en|casino]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In the senses “mess”, “trouble” and “a lot” the word is colloquial and can sound vulgar.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary) The gambling house is usually ''casinò'', with final stress.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}