fillet
/fɪˈleɪ/
noun
Origin
French
fil — thread
Overview
Meaning Now
- A fleshy boneless piece of meat or fish.
- A strip of material used for trimming or decoration, such as a ribbon or lace.
- A thin strip of something.
Literal older meaning
A thread or cord
Language path
French → English
Earliest form
filet
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term entered English through French culinary influence. Originally referring to a 'thread' or 'string,' it evolved metaphorically to describe thin strips of meat (looking like threads) or thin strips of fabric used in sewing and embroidery.
Evolution
- Old French
fil
“thread”
- Middle French
filet
“a small thread or string”
Diminutive form of 'fil'
- Modern English
fillet
“a boneless piece of meat or a decorative strip”
Adopted from French culinary terminology
Connections
Word parts
fil-
root
thread
-et
suffix
diminutive (small)
Related across languages
Latin
filum
thread
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Related to fillet
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.