cable English · revision 4554

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1205|origins=la capere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkeɪ.bəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|cable]], [[bor|fro-nor|cable|t=large rope]], or through Anglo-Norman,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|capulum|t=lasso, rope, halter for cattle]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Latin capere “to take, seize”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*keh₂p-|alt=*kap-|t=to grasp]].^(Etymonline) Hoad mentions an Arabic ḥabl “rope” behind the Late Latin word, associated with capere, and notes that Middle Dutch and Middle Low German kabel may have reinforced the English word.^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[capture]] and [[captive]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A large, strong rope or chain used on a ship: probably before 1200 in Barnhart, in Layamon's Brut;^(Barnhart 1988) about 1205 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The anchor rope of a ship is a sense from about 1325,^(OED 1989) and a ''cable's length'' became a unit of distance at sea in 1555.^(OED 1989) The 19th century gave it new senses: a bundle of insulated wires for carrying electricity (1854) and for submarine telegraphy (about 1850),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) which led to a telegraph message (1883), short for ''cablegram'' (1868).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb, to tie up with cables, is from about 1500,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and to send a message by cable from 1868–1871.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Cable television'' is attested by 1963, shortened to ''cable'' in the early 1970s.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1200 – a strong rope, especially on a ship.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1325 – an anchor rope.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – verb, to fasten with a cable.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1555 – ''cable's length''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1854 – an electric cable.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1868 – ''cablegram''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1883 – a message sent by cable.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1963 – ''cable television''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A thick, strong [[rope]] of fibre or steel wire.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A bundle of insulated [[wire]]s that carries electricity or signals.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The heavy rope or chain used to hold a ship at [[anchor]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A telegraph message sent by cable; a [[cablegram]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[cable television]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To send a message to someone by cable.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To fasten or provide with a cable or cables.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cabler]]

+ * [[cablelike]]

+ * [[cable-ready]]

+ * [[cablecast]]

+ * [[cablevision]]

+ * [[monocable]]

+ * [[recable]]

+ * [[cablegram]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cablet]]

+ * [[capture]]

+ * [[captive]]

+ * [[capable]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}