hurdle English · revision 869

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɜːdl̩/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhɝd(ə)l/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|hurdel]], [[inh|ang|hyrdel|t=frame of intertwined twigs]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a diminutive related to [[gem-pro|*hurdiz]] “wickerwork frame”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and to [[de|Hürde]] and [[got|𐌷𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌳𐍃|tr=haurds|t=door]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) It goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to weave”, which also gave [[la|crātis|t=wickerwork, hurdle]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A portable frame of interwoven twigs used as a temporary fence (c. 725).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hurdles were used in farming for temporary pens and fences.^(Etymonline) A ''hurdle'' was also the frame or sledge on which traitors were dragged to execution (1412–20), a part of the legal sentence until 1870.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The sense “barrier to be jumped in a race” dates from 1822–33,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) and ''hurdles'' as a type of race by 1836.^(Etymonline) The figurative sense “obstacle, difficulty” is from 1924.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The verb “to jump over a hurdle” dates from 1880–96.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – a wattled frame.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1412–20 – a sledge for dragging traitors to execution.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – verb, to construct like a hurdle.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1822 – a barrier in a race.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1896 – verb, to jump over.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1924 – an obstacle, difficulty.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A light portable barrier that runners or horses must jump over in certain races; also, ''hurdles'', such a race.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An obstacle or difficulty to be overcome.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A portable panel of woven branches or wattle used as temporary fencing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical)'' A frame or sledge on which condemned people were dragged to execution.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To jump over (a barrier), especially while running.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To overcome or surmount (a difficulty).^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hurdler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wattle]]

+ * [[crate]]

+ * [[obstacle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}