furbo Italian · revision 39039

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1484, Luigi Pulci|origins=frk *furbjan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfur.bo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''furbo''' (feminine furba, masculine plural furbi, feminine plural furbe, superlative furbissimo, adverb furbamente)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|fourbe|t=thief; cheat]], a word of the French underworld recorded from 1455.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary) The French word is probably formed from [[m|frm|fourbir|t=to polish, to furbish]], a thief being one who “cleans out” other people's pockets; the Italian verb from the same source is [[forbire]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951|472)^(GDLI) The verb is from [[frk|*furbjan|t=to polish]].^(Devoto 1968)^(REW 1935)^(Zaccaria 1901)

+

+ Meyer-Lübke derived the French word from the Italian one,^(REW 1935) but DELI points out that the dates rule this out.^(DELI 1999) DEI calls the French word a slang term of unknown origin,^(DEI|1737) and Treccani and Wikizionario leave the origin open.^(Treccani 2011)^(Wikizionario) Zaccaria and Tommaseo rejected older derivations from [[la|furvus|t=dark]] and [[m|la|fūr|t=thief]].^(Zaccaria 1901)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) DEI adds that the word passed into the dialects of the south,^(DEI|1737) and Wiktionary compares [[pms|furb]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Luigi Pulci, before 1484, where ''furbo'' means a member of the underworld, a rogue or vagabond; this sense was in use until the end of the 18th century.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) Pulci also calls a gang of rogues ''la Furba''.^(Prati 1951|472)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century ''lingua furba'' or ''furbesca'' was the jargon of the underworld: Berni uses ''per dirlo in lingua furba'' “to say it in thieves' cant”.^(GDLI)^(DELI 1999) From the same milieu the word passed, before 1552 in Anton Francesco Doni, to the modern sense “shrewd, knowing how to get an advantage by clever tricks”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Nocentini sees the shift as one from “member of the underworld” to “a person who knows all the tricks for getting by”.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The proverbs Tommaseo collects reflect the old, harsher sense: ''tra furbo e furbo non si camuffa'' “one rogue cannot fool another”.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GDLI) A large family of derivatives followed: ''furberia'' (1572), ''furbacchione'' (1857–1858, Ippolito Nievo), ''furbizia'' (1853) and ''furbastro'' (1949, Pavese).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1455 – French ''fourbe'' “thief” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1484 – Luigi Pulci uses ''furbo'' for a member of the underworld.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1552 – Anton Francesco Doni uses it in the sense “shrewd”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1560 – ''Furbesco'' “fraudulent, sly” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1572 – ''Furberia'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1853 – ''Furbizia'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1949 – Pavese uses ''furbastro''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|cunning]], [[m|en|sly]], shrewd: quick to look after one's own interest and to get out of difficulties: ''È stato furbo a non firmare subito.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Showing cunning: ''un sorriso furbo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A cunning person, a sly one: ''Smettila di fare il furbo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A [[m|en|rogue]], swindler, member of the underworld.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[furbacchione]]

+ * [[furbastro]]

+ * [[furberia]]

+ * [[furbesco]]

+ * [[furbizia]]

+ * [[furbetto]]

+ * [[furbone]]

+ * [[infurbire]]

+ * [[furbamente]]

+ * [[furbata]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[forbire]]

+ * [[fr|fourbe]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Farsi furbo'' is to wise up, learn to look after oneself;^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) ''furbo matricolato'' or ''di tre cotte'' is an arrant rogue.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Zingarelli distinguishes ''furbo'', practical and instinctive cleverness, from ''astuto'', more calculated.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}