playground English · revision 39644

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1768, F. de Valangin, Treatise on Diet}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpleɪɡɹaʊnd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound [[af|en|play|ground]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) and the OED compares the earlier [[playing field]].^(OED 2026) Old English had [[m|ang|plegstōw]] and [[m|ang|plegstede]], a place for play, a sports ground or gymnasium;^(Etymonline)^(Bosworth-Toller)^(Clark Hall 1960) Bosworth-Toller notes that the first survives in the place name Plaistow.^(Bosworth-Toller)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A piece of ground for playing on, especially one attached to a school or in a public park: 1768, in Francis de Valangin's ''Treatise on Diet''.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline dates it to 1780, and Dictionary.com to 1770–80.^(Etymonline)^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The extended sense, any place of recreation, follows in 1825,^(OED 2026) and Merriam-Webster records its use for a region favoured for holidays, as in "England's mountain playground".^(MWU 2024) Collins also lists a figurative sense, a sphere of activity.^(Collins 2023) The Shorter Oxford lists ''adventure playground'' among its compounds.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1768 – a piece of ground for play.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1780 – Etymonline's date.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1825 – any place of recreation.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An outdoor area for children to play in, often with [[swing|alt=swings]], [[slide|alt=slides]] and other equipment, especially at a school or in a [[park]].^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A place popular for [[recreation]] or holidays: ''The coast became a playground for the rich.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A sphere of activity, especially one where someone acts freely.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[adventure playground]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[playhouse]]

+ * [[playpen]]

+ * [[playroom]]

+ * [[play]]

+ * [[ground]]

+ * [[playing field]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}