shore English · revision 5965

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ʃɔː/, US /ʃɔːr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|land by the water}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=gml schōre}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The land word is Middle English schore, of uncertain origin:^(Barnhart 1988) it may come from Old English scora, sceor-, found only in place names,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) or be [[bor|gml|schōre|t=shore, coast, headland]] or Middle Dutch scorre “land washed by the sea”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) all probably from [[gem-pro|*skur-]] “cut”, from the PIE root [[ine-pro|*(s)ker-|t=to cut]] (see [[shear]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The original sense is not easy to determine: perhaps the division between land and water,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) or land cut off from the mainland by tidal marshes.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The land bordering the sea, a lake or a river: about 1300 in Etymonline and in the 14th century in the OED and Hoad; probably about 1380 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''On shore'', on land as opposed to water, is from the 14th century.^(OED 1989) A coast or the country that it bounds, in rhetorical use, is from 1611,^(OED 1989) and in law the tract between ordinary high and low water from 1622.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) In Scotland a shore was also a quay built for loading and landing goods (1512).^(OED 1989) The verb, to go or put ashore, is from the late 16th century.^(SOED 2002) ''Shorebird'' is American from 1874.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – land by the water.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1512 – a landing place, in Scots.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – a coast, country.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1622 – in law, between the tide marks.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1874 – shorebird.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The land along the edge of a [[sea]], [[lake]] or wide river.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Land as opposed to water: ''on shore''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(often plural)'' A country: ''foreign shores''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ {{homograph|2|prop}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=1318|origins=gml schōre}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The prop is probably [[bor|gml|schōre|t=prop, stay, support]], cognate with Middle Dutch schore, schoor and Old Norse skorða,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) words of obscure origin though widespread in Germanic;^(Etymonline) Barnhart links them to a split beam and the root of [[shear]].^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from the noun, perhaps reinforced by Middle Dutch schōren “to prop up”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, a prop: 1318 in Barnhart, the late 13th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb, to prop up, is from 1340, in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun survives in technical use for a post or beam that gives temporary support, especially an oblique timber bracing the side of a building, a ship under repair or an excavation, from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) The verb, usually ''shore up'', is often used figuratively, of supporting a failing cause or economy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1318 – a prop.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1340 – to prop up.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(usually shore up)'' To support with a prop, or to strengthen something weak.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A beam set against a building or ship to support it; a [[prop]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[longshoreman]]

+ * [[ashore]]

+ * [[shear]]

+ * [[share]]

+ * [[short]]

+ * [[score]]

+ * [[shard]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}