shower English · revision 4819

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 950|origins=gem-pro *skūraz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈʃaʊ.ər/, US /ˈʃaʊ.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|shour]], [[inh|ang|scūr|t=short fall of rain; storm; fall of missiles]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*skūraz]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Old Norse skúr, German Schauer and Gothic skūra “storm” are related,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and outside Germanic perhaps Latin caurus “northwest wind” and Lithuanian šiaurys “north wind”, from a root meaning “north, north wind”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A short fall of rain: about 950 in the OED, in the Lindisfarne Gospels.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) In Old English it could also mean a fall of missiles or blows.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By Middle English a shower was any plentiful fall or supply: of tears from the 14th century,^(Hoad 1986) of blood and tears from about 1400 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) of gifts and plenty from about 1325.^(Barnhart 1988) A meteor shower is from 1835.^(Etymonline) The verb, to fall in showers, is from 1573.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) A bath in which water falls from above is from 1851, short for ''shower-bath'' (1803),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and the verb ''to shower'', to take one, is by 1930.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In American English a ''shower'' was a large number of gifts for a bride (1904), and then the party at which they were given (1926).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) In Australia it has meant a dust storm (1898),^(OED 1989) and in British slang a contemptible group of people (1942).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – a fall of rain.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1325 – a plentiful supply.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1573 – verb, to rain in showers.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1835 – a meteor shower.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1851 – a shower-bath.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1904 – gifts for a bride.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930 – verb, to take a shower.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A device that sprays water on the body for washing, or a wash under it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A short fall of [[rain]], [[snow]] or [[hail]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A large number of things falling or arriving together.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly US)'' A party at which gifts are given to a woman who is about to marry or have a baby.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(British slang)'' A worthless group of people.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To wash under a shower.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To fall, or make something fall, in large numbers.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give generously: ''showered with praise''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[showery]]

+ * [[showerless]]

+ * [[showerer]]

+ * [[showerlike]]

+ * [[showerhead]]

+ * [[outshower]]

+ * [[showerproof]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different shower, rhyming with “grower”, is an agent noun from [[show]], one who shows or exhibits (13th century in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}