Etymologies

Harbour

Harbour (BE)/Harbor (AmE)

• ME word has been assumed to be taken from Norse, but the phonology points rather to an OE type (might be taken from Norse).

• The history shows two lines of phonetic change:
  • her -> her
  • the weakening of the second element to –ber, -bor, -bour
  • The current form “harbour” exhibits both of these changes.

• Various spellings – it appears in modern-day form (both BE and AmE) in 17th century
• Meanings:

• • a. Shelter, lodging, entertainment: sojourn, abode – as early as mid-12th century (spelled as herbyrȝe)
  • b. The “house,” mansion, zodiac (Chaucer)
  • c. Retreat of wild animals
  • d. Used figuratively
  • e. Port (late 13th century)
  • f. Airship shed/hangar (1909, 1912)
  • g. A vessel used for mixing ingredients for glass making (19th century)
  • h. A number of compounds

Glamour

• Etymology: Originally Scots, introduced into the literary language by Scott. A corrupt form of the word grammar. ; for the sense compare gramarye n.:
  • gramarye, n. Etymology: < Old French *gramarye: see grammar n.
    • †1. Grammar; learning in general. Obs. (1320-1500)
    • 2. Occult learning, magic, necromancy. Revived in literary use by Scott. (1470-1883)
• Semantic development of "glamour":
  • 1. Magic, enchantment, spell; esp. in the phrase to cast the glamour over one (1720-1894)
  • 2.
    • a. A magical or fictitious beauty attaching to any person or object; a delusive or alluring charm. (1840-1874)
    • b. Charm; attractiveness; physical allure, esp. feminine beauty; freq. attrib. (see Compounds 2). colloq. (orig. U.S.). (1937-1958)
• Compounds
  • C1.
    • a. glamour gift n. 1813, glamour might n. 1805
    • b. glamour-learned adj. 1823
  • C2.
    • glamour boy n. a young man who possesses glamour; spec. (slang) a member of the R.A.F. (1939-1954)
    • glamour girl n. a glamorous young woman; a ‘pin-up girl’. (1935-1956)

References:

"glamour | glamor, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, December 2015. Web. 9 December 2015.