medal English · revision 5582

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1586}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmed.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|médaille]], [[der|it|medaglia|t=medal]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The origin of the Italian word is disputed.^(Etymonline) Barnhart, Klein and Watkins take medaglia to have meant first a coin worth half a denarius, from [[la-vul|*medālia]], from [[m|la-lat|mediālia|t=little halves]], the neuter plural of [[m|la|mediālis|t=of the middle]];^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021) the OED and Hoad derive it instead from [[la-vul|*metallea]] “metal (coin)”, from Latin metallum “metal”.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart argues that the sense “coin” and the Latin forms favour the first explanation.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A metal disc with a figure or inscription, used as a charm or trinket: before 1586, in Sidney's writings.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A piece of metal struck to commemorate a person or event is from 1611 in the OED, the 1610s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) There was little difference in appearance between a coin and a medal.^(Cresswell 2021) A medal given as a reward for merit is from 1751.^(OED 1989) The verb, to decorate with a medal, is from 1822 in the OED and 1857 in Etymonline,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and to win a medal in sport from 1967.^(Etymonline) ''Medallion'', at first a large medal, is from the mid-17th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1586 – a charm or trinket.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1611 – a commemorative medal.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1751 – a reward for merit.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1822 – the verb, to decorate.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1967 – to win a medal.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A flat piece of [[metal]] with a design or words on it, given as an award or to remember an event or person.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A similar piece of metal with a religious image.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(sport, informal)'' To win a medal.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To honour with a medal.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[medallic]]

+ * [[medalist]]

+ * [[bronze medal]]

+ * [[gold medal]]

+ * [[silver medal]]

+ * [[medal play]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[medalet]]

+ * [[medallion]]

+ * [[medallist]]

+ * [[medial]]

+ * [[metal]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}