Etymologies

Harbour

Harbour (BE)/Harbor (AmE)[1]

  • 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


References

  1. "harbour." OED Online Oxford University Press, March 2015. Web 3 March 2015.

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.