Today I Learned@lemmy.worldEnglish · 4 months ago

TIL that the word "silhouette" was just a guy's name (and he had nothing to do with silhouettes)

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TIL that the word "silhouette" was just a guy's name (and he had nothing to do with silhouettes)

youtu.be

gedaliyah@lemmy.world to

Today I Learned@lemmy.worldEnglish · 4 months ago

Etymology of "Silhouette"

youtu.be

Eponym Series, Part 6.Étienne de Silhouette. An interesting example of an eponym, but also a fun etymology generally.#silhoette #etiennedesilhouette #frenchh...

Apparently he was an advocate for financial austerity, so his name became connected with cheap or discount things. A silhouette was an affordable type of portrait.

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sik0fewl@lemmy.ca
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4 months ago
Nice find! I had always assumed it was French for shadow or something along those lines.
- UnrepententProcrastinator@lemmy.ca
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  4 months ago
  It is french for outline.

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