chef English · revision 6253

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping, borrowing|attested=1826|origins=la caput}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃɛf/, /t͡ʃɛf/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|chef|t=head]], short for [[m|fr|chef de cuisine|t=head of the kitchen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Old French [[m|fro|chief|t=leader, head]] (see [[chief]]), from Latin [[m|la|caput|t=head]].^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A head cook: 1826, in Disraeli's ''Vivian Grey'';^(Barnhart 1988) 1840 in MWU, 1842 in the OED and Etymonline.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Any professional cook, especially in a restaurant or hotel, is now a chef.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) The verb, to work as a chef, is from 1912 in MWU.^(MWU 2024) English had earlier borrowed the same French word as [[chief]].^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1826 – a head cook, in Disraeli.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1912 – the verb.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A professional [[cook]], especially the chief cook in a restaurant or hotel.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chefdom]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chef de cuisine]]

+ * [[chief]]

+ * [[chieftain]]

+ * [[capital]]

+ * [[sous-chef]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}