string: [OE] String is etymologically something that has been pulled ‘taut’ or ‘stiff’. It comes from a prehistoric Germanic base *strang-, denoting ‘taut, stiff’, which also produced English strong. => strong
string (n.)
Old English streng "line, cord, thread, string of a bow or harp," in plural "tackle, rigging; lineage, race," from Proto-Germanic *strangiz (cognates: Old Norse strengr, Danish streng, Middle Dutch strenge, Dutch streng, Old High German strang, German Strang "rope, cord"), from *strang- "taut, stiff," from PIE root *strenk- "tight, narrow." Gradually restricted by early Middle English to lines that are smaller than a rope. Sense of "a number of objects arranged in a line" first recorded late 15c.
Old English meaning "ligaments, tendons" is preserved in hamstring, heartstrings. Meaning "limitations, stipulations" (1888) is American English, probably from the common April Fool's joke of leaving a purse that appears to be full of money on the sidewalk, then tugging it away with an attached string when someone stoops to pick it up.
To pull strings "control the course of affairs" (1860) is from the notion of puppet theater. First string, second string, etc. in athletics (1863) is from archers' custom of carrying spare bowstrings in the event that one breaks. Strings "stringed instruments" is attested from mid-14c. String bean is from 1759; string bikini is from 1974.
string (v.)
c. 1400, "to fit a bow with a string," from string (n.). Meaning "to thread (beads, etc.) on a string" is from 1610s. Of musical instruments from 1520s (stringed instrument is from c. 1600). To string (someone) along is slang from 1902; string (v.) in the sense "deceive" is attested in British dialect from c. 1812; perhaps ultimately from the musical instrument sense and with a notion of "to 'tune' someone (for some purpose)." Related: Stringed (later strung); stringing.
雙語例句
1. The Doberman let out a string of roaring barks.
短毛獵犬一陣狂吠。
來自柯林斯例句
2. He held out a small bag tied with string.
他拿出一個系著細繩的小袋子。
來自柯林斯例句
3. A string of five rowing boats set out from the opposite bank.
5只劃艇排成一行從對岸出發了。
來自柯林斯例句
4. The landscape is broken only by a string of villages.
這片風景中只有一排村莊。
來自柯林斯例句
5. The band was forced to cancel a string of live dates.