split English · revision 4159

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1567|origins=dum splitten}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /splɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|nl|splitten]], from [[dum|splitten]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) which is not found in Middle English^(Etymonline) and is related to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German splīten, Middle High German splīzen (German spleißen) and Old Frisian splīta “to slit”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*spleitaną|alt=*spleitanan]].^(Etymonline) Barnhart and Pokorny trace it to [[ine-pro|*spleyd-|alt=*spleid-]], with Old Irish slis “a slice”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) but Boutkan finds no certain PIE etymology,^(Etymonline) and the Shorter Oxford calls its ultimate origin unknown.^(SOED 2002) It was first a nautical word.^(Hoad 1986)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ 1567 in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate) The OED's first certain sense, of storms or rocks, “to break up a ship”, is from 1590,^(OED 1989)^(COED 2004) the year Barnhart gives for “to break up”, in Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, followed in 1593 by “to divide, cleave, rend”.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To cleave or rend lengthwise” is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) and “to divide into parts” by 1706.^(Etymonline) ''To split hairs'', to make over-fine distinctions, is from the 1670s,^(Etymonline) ''to split the difference'' from 1715,^(Etymonline) and ''split ticket'', in American politics, from 1836–42.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Of couples, “to separate, divorce”, it is from 1942, and the American slang “to leave, depart” is recorded by 1954, probably from that.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''To split the atom'' is from 1909.^(Etymonline) The noun, a narrow cleft or crack, is from 1597,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) a piece of wood from splitting from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) a breach in a party or between friends by 1729,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the acrobat's splits by 1857,^(Etymonline) a drink of two liquors from 1882,^(Etymonline) a share of the takings from 1889,^(Etymonline) and the ''banana split'' from 1905.^(Etymonline) The adjective is from 1648,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''split second'' from 1912, in Chesterton.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1567 – verb.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1590 – to break up a ship.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1597 – noun, a cleft.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1648 – adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1729 – a breach in a party.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1857 – the splits.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1942 – of couples, to separate.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1954 – to leave.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To divide from end to end or along the [[grain]], as by a sharp blow.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To break, burst or tear apart by force.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To separate people or groups; to divide into factions.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To divide and [[share]]: ''split the profits''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' To leave.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or result of splitting; a [[crack]] or tear.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A breach or [[rupture]] in a group.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A share of something divided.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An acrobatic feat of sinking to the floor with the legs spread in a straight line, often ''the splits''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A dessert of sliced fruit, especially a banana, with ice cream.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Divided or separated; [[cleft]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[splitter]]

+ * [[splittable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[splice]]

+ * [[splinter]]

+ * [[splint]]

+ * [[spall]]

+ * [[slice]]

+ * [[splitting]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}