cruise English · revision 6431

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1651|origins=la crux}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɹuːz/ ''(UK)''; /kɹuz/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|nl|kruisen|t=to cross; to sail to and fro]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|nl|kruis|t=cross]], from [[la|crux|t=cross]] (see [[cross]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To sail to and fro without a particular destination: 1651.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a voyage in which a ship sails to and fro, is from 1706,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a pleasure voyage on a ship by 1906.^(Etymonline) Of aircraft and cars, to travel at a steady economical speed, is a later sense.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) To go about looking for a sexual partner is from 1904.^(OED 1989) [[cruiser|alt=Cruiser]] is from 1695, from Dutch kruiser,^(Barnhart 1988) and a ''cruise missile'' is a guided missile flying low.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1651 – to sail to and fro.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1695 – cruiser.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1706 – the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1904 – to look for a partner.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1906 – a pleasure voyage.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To sail about, especially for pleasure, calling at several places.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To travel at a steady, efficient speed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To win easily: ''cruised to victory''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A voyage on a ship for pleasure, calling at several places.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cruisingly]]

+ * [[cruiseway]]

+ * [[cruiser]]

+ * [[cruise control]]

+ * [[cruise missile]]

+ * [[cruise ship]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crusade]]

+ * [[cross]]

+ * [[crux]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}