Talk:charger
Latest comment: 3 months ago by Nicodene in topic Second Etymology?
Second Etymology?
[edit]I wonder if the English noun defined in #4 ("A large platter.") and #5 ("A large decorative plate, sometimes used under dinner plates or other savoury-dish vessels in a multi-course meal; also service plate or underplate.") might be a homograph with a separate etymology.
The Wikipedia entry for this object states "The word 'charger' originated around 1275–1325 from the Middle English 'chargeour'. Formerly, a charger signified either a large platter or a large, shallow dish for liquids." This passage references Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Random House, Inc. 1996.
Would this be the same etymology as the one written in this Wiktionary entry? Collins Beach Bum (talk) 15:36, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
- @Collins Beach Bum That looks like Old French charg- (“load”, verb) + -eor (“-er”). Very much a different etymology. Incidentally I think this is the first case I’ve ever seen where two homographs are doublets. Nicodene (talk) 15:47, 14 June 2024 (UTC)