What does cordelle mean?
Cordelle is a rare English noun for a small cord or string, particularly a string used in a musical instrument. The word is encountered chiefly in dictionaries and older or specialist writing rather than in ordinary contemporary speech. Its meaning is narrower than that of the familiar cord: cordelle emphasizes either the smallness of the cord or its use as a musical string. The unusual final syllable may make the word sound unfamiliar, but its sense becomes clearer once its French origin is recognized. Cordelle comes through French cordelle, a diminutive of corde, meaning “rope,” and ultimately from Latin chorda, with close relatives in Greek. The word is therefore a useful example of how a diminutive ending can preserve a distinction—smallness or instrument use—that English otherwise tends to express through context alone. It is now principally valuable for precise historical, literary, or technical reading.
nounA small cord or string, especially a string used for a musical instrument.
- A small cord or string, especially a string used for a musical instrument.
"A single weak cordelle prevented the old lute from holding its tune."
"A single weak cordelle prevented the old lute from holding its tune."
"She used a cordelle to tie the small parcel."
The regular plural is cordelles, though the word itself is uncommon.
"The old cordelles were carefully removed and replaced."
The word literally carries the idea of a “little rope”: French corde means “rope,” and the suffix -elle makes it a diminutive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cordelle come from?
Cordelle entered English from French cordelle, a diminutive of corde, meaning “rope.” The French word derives from Latin chorda, which in turn comes from Greek khordē, referring to a string or cord, especially one associated with an instrument. English cognates such as cord, cordage, cordon, and chord reflect the same wider etymological family, although they do not preserve the specific French diminutive sense found in cordelle.
How cordelle is actually used
Rare and somewhat dated; it is encountered more often in dictionaries and historical or specialist writing than in ordinary contemporary English.