baker English · revision 6476

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1000|origins=ang bacan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbeɪ.kə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbeɪ.kɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|bæcere|t=baker]], an agent noun from [[m|ang|bacan|t=to bake]] (see [[bake]]) and [[-er]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) It is cognate with [[nl|bakker]] and [[de|Bäcker]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who bakes, especially one whose trade is making bread: before 1000 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the Middle Ages the craft had two divisions, brown bakers and white bakers, with rules about which breads each could bake.^(Etymonline) A ''baker's dozen'', thirteen, is from 1599, perhaps from bakers adding an extra loaf to avoid being fined for short weight.^(OED 1989) A small portable tin oven is a baker in the US (1841).^(OED 1989) ''Baker'' was the first two-syllable word in old spelling books, so ''to spell baker'' meant to try something difficult.^(Etymonline) In Irish English ''on the baker's list'' means in good health.^(Collins 2023) In western and Midland dialect a baker is a potato or apple good for baking.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1000 – a baker.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1599 – baker's dozen.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – a portable oven.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who makes and sells [[bread]], cakes and the like.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A small portable oven.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bakerlike]]

+ * [[bakery]]

+ * [[baker's dozen]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bake]]

+ * [[batch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}