sauce English · revision 6101

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340|origins=la sāl}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English sause, sauce, [[bor|fro|sauce]], sausse, earlier saulse,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*salsa]], a noun use of [[la|salsa]], feminine or neuter plural of [[m|la|salsus|t=salted]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) the past participle of [[m|la|sallere|t=to salt]], from [[m|la|sāl|t=salt]] (see [[salt]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from PIE [[ine-pro|*sal-|t=salt]].^(Etymonline) The SOED notes that its etymological sense is the same as that of [[salad]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A liquid seasoning or condiment: 1340 in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt'',^(Barnhart 1988) 1350 in the OED,^(OED 1989) mid-14th century in Etymonline, also a pickling brine.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A curative preparation, medicinal salt, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) Figuratively, something that adds piquancy or zest, it is in Dunbar's poems, before 1500.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) In provincial English and the United States it was formerly any condiment, especially garden vegetables eaten with meat,^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) and stewed fruit is still sauce in North America.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Hoad derives the sense of an impudent person (16th century) and impudence (19th century) probably from [[saucy]],^(Hoad 1986) which first meant savoury, but impudent from the early 16th century;^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) the verb, to speak impertinently, is from 1862,^(Etymonline) and [[sass]] is an American variant.^(SOED 2002) Alcoholic liquor, ''on the sauce'', is American slang from 1940, in John O'Hara's ''Pal Joey''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) ''What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'' was recorded by John Ray in 1670, who called it a woman's proverb.^(Cresswell 2021) [[saucepan|alt=Saucepan]] is from 1686,^(Barnhart 1988) and a [[saucer]] was in the Middle Ages a dish for sauces.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – a liquid seasoning.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1438 – the verb, to season.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1500 – something that adds zest, in Dunbar.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1670 – sauce for the goose, in Ray.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1686 – saucepan.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1862 – to speak impertinently to.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1940 – alcoholic liquor.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A liquid or soft mixture served with food to add flavour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(North America)'' Stewed fruit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that adds zest or [[piquancy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Impudent talk or behaviour; [[cheek]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(slang)'' Alcoholic drink: ''on the sauce''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To season or flavour with sauce.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(informal)'' To speak impudently to.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sauceless]]

+ * [[sauceboat]]

+ * [[saucebox]]

+ * [[saucier]]

+ * [[sass]]

+ * [[saucepan]]

+ * [[saucepot]]

+ * [[saucy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sauced]]

+ * [[saucer]]

+ * [[salsa]]

+ * [[salt]]

+ * [[sausage]]

+ * [[salad]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}