ram English · revision 6923

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 825|origins=gmw-pro *ramm}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɹæm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|ramm|t=male sheep; battering ram]], earlier rom,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a West Germanic word, with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Dutch and Old High German [[m|goh|ram]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) of unknown origin.^(Etymonline) It is probably related to Old Norse [[m|non|rammr|t=strong, sharp]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) and Klein also compares Old Church Slavonic ramenu, impetuous.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A male sheep: about 825 in the OED, before 725 (as rom) in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A battering ram is from about 897,^(OED 1989) and the zodiac sign Aries from about 1050.^(OED 1989) A pile driver is from 1256 and the weight of a pile-driving machine from the 15th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) The beak of a warship used for ramming is from 1865,^(OED 1989) and a lecherous man, colloquially, from 1935.^(OED 1989) The verb, to beat earth firm, is from about 1300,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) to drive in by heavy blows from 1519,^(Barnhart 1988) and to dash violently against by 1864.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 825 – a male sheep.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 897 – a battering ram.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1050 – Aries.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – to tamp (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1864 – to strike violently.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1865 – a warship's beak.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An uncastrated male [[sheep]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[battering ram]] or similar device for striking or driving.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The weight of a pile driver, or the piston of a hydraulic press.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(the Ram)'' The constellation or zodiac sign [[Aries]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To strike or [[butt]] against with great force.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To force into place by pushing or pounding: ''ram home''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rammer]]

+ * [[ramlike]]

+ * [[ramshorn]]

+ * [[ramjet]]

+ * [[ramrod]]

+ * [[hydraulic ram]]

+ * [[rammed earth]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[battering ram]]

+ * [[ewe]]

+ * [[sheep]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ RAM in computing, random-access memory, is an unrelated acronym from 1957.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}