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I see that Etymonline warns of gasket's uncertain origin, but I still pine to understand this possible etymology. I know little about sailing, and Wikipedia annunciates: gaskets are lengths of r...
Question
etymology
#2: Post edited
by
PSTH
·
2020-12-09T05:55:10Z (over 3 years ago)
- I see that [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=gasket) warns of _gasket_'s **uncertain origin**, but I still pine to understand this possible etymology. I know little about sailing, and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasket_%28sailing%29) annunciates:
- > **gaskets** are lengths of rope or fabric used for [reefing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefing) a sail, or hold a stowed sail in place.
- This etymology feels misogynistic. I'm flummoxed because gaskets don't look like girls or maidservants, and because little girls or maidservants didn't serve on ships?
> ###gasket (n.)- > 1620s, _caskette_, originally nautical, "small rope or plaited coil" used to secure a furled sail, of **uncertain origin**,
- perhaps from French _garcette _"a gasket," literally "little girl, maidservant," diminutive of Old French _garce_ "young woman, young girl; whore, harlot, concubine" (13c.), fem. of _garçon _(see [garcon](https://www.etymonline.com/word/garcon)). Century Dictionary notes Spanish_ garcette_ "a gasket," also "hair which falls in locks." Machinery sense of "packing (originally of braided hemp) to seal metal joints and pistons" first recorded 1829.
- I see that [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=gasket) warns of _gasket_'s **uncertain origin**, but I still pine to understand this possible etymology. I know little about sailing, and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasket_%28sailing%29) annunciates:
- > **gaskets** are lengths of rope or fabric used for [reefing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefing) a sail, or hold a stowed sail in place.
- This etymology feels misogynistic. I'm flummoxed because gaskets don't look like girls or maidservants, and because little girls or maidservants didn't serve on ships?
- > ### gasket (n.)
- > 1620s, _caskette_, originally nautical, "small rope or plaited coil" used to secure a furled sail, of **uncertain origin**,
- perhaps from French _garcette _"a gasket," literally "little girl, maidservant," diminutive of Old French _garce_ "young woman, young girl; whore, harlot, concubine" (13c.), fem. of _garçon _(see [garcon](https://www.etymonline.com/word/garcon)). Century Dictionary notes Spanish_ garcette_ "a gasket," also "hair which falls in locks." Machinery sense of "packing (originally of braided hemp) to seal metal joints and pistons" first recorded 1829.
#1: Initial revision
by
PSTH
·
2020-12-08T05:12:41Z (over 3 years ago)
What semantic notions underlie "gasket" with "little gird, maidservant"?
I see that [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=gasket) warns of _gasket_'s **uncertain origin**, but I still pine to understand this possible etymology. I know little about sailing, and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasket_%28sailing%29) annunciates: > **gaskets** are lengths of rope or fabric used for [reefing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefing) a sail, or hold a stowed sail in place. This etymology feels misogynistic. I'm flummoxed because gaskets don't look like girls or maidservants, and because little girls or maidservants didn't serve on ships? > ###gasket (n.) > 1620s, _caskette_, originally nautical, "small rope or plaited coil" used to secure a furled sail, of **uncertain origin**, perhaps from French _garcette _"a gasket," literally "little girl, maidservant," diminutive of Old French _garce_ "young woman, young girl; whore, harlot, concubine" (13c.), fem. of _garçon _(see [garcon](https://www.etymonline.com/word/garcon)). Century Dictionary notes Spanish_ garcette_ "a gasket," also "hair which falls in locks." Machinery sense of "packing (originally of braided hemp) to seal metal joints and pistons" first recorded 1829.