tinsel的词源

英文词源

tinsel: tinsel: [16] Tinsel is etymologically something that ‘sparkles’. Its ultimate source is Latin scintilla ‘spark’, which has also given English scintillate [17]. This was altered in the postclassical period to *stincilla, which passed into Old French as estincele ‘spark’. From this was derived the adjective estincelé ‘sparkling’, which was applied particularly to fabric with metallic thread woven into it. English took this over as tinselle, originally an adjective but soon used as a noun. Its derogatory connotations of ‘gaudiness’ or ‘cheap glamour’ began to emerge in the 17th century.
=> scintillate, stencil
tinsel (n.): mid-15c., "a kind of cloth made with interwoven gold or silver thread," from Middle French estincelle "spark, spangle" (see stencil (n.)). "In 14-15th c. Fr., the s of es- had long been mute" [OED]. Meaning "very thin sheets or strips of shiny metal" is recorded from 1590s. Figurative sense of "anything showy with little real worth" is from 1650s, suggested from at least 1590s. First recorded use of Tinseltown for "Hollywood" is from 1972.

来自中古法语 estincelle, 闪耀，火光，火星，来自拉丁语 scintilla, 火光，火星，词源同 shine,scintillate.首字母-es-由于不发音最终脱落，拼写比较 study,etude,special,especial.后用于指圣诞节期间装饰用的箔布，金属片等。

该词的英语词源请访问找单词词源英文版：tinsel 词源，tinsel 含义。