Where does “sport” meaning “wear” come from?
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To sport something to have or wear something in a proud way:
to sport a beard,
she was sporting a T-shirt with the company's logo on it. (OLD)
The etymology of sport as a verb don’t appear to refers the above usage:
c. 1400, "to take pleasure, to amuse oneself," from Old French desporter, deporter "to divert, amuse, please, play; to seek amusement," literally "carry away" (the mind from serious matters).
and the only later connotation of sport as a noun that seems somewhat related is:
Sense of "stylish man" is from 1861, American English, probably because they lived by gambling and betting on races. (Etymonline)
Questions:
A) where does the above connotation come from?
B) is it a recent slang usage or does it have an older origin?
word-usage etymology slang
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
To sport something to have or wear something in a proud way:
to sport a beard,
she was sporting a T-shirt with the company's logo on it. (OLD)
The etymology of sport as a verb don’t appear to refers the above usage:
c. 1400, "to take pleasure, to amuse oneself," from Old French desporter, deporter "to divert, amuse, please, play; to seek amusement," literally "carry away" (the mind from serious matters).
and the only later connotation of sport as a noun that seems somewhat related is:
Sense of "stylish man" is from 1861, American English, probably because they lived by gambling and betting on races. (Etymonline)
Questions:
A) where does the above connotation come from?
B) is it a recent slang usage or does it have an older origin?
word-usage etymology slang
To sport = "to amuse oneself" (with something), esp. in front of others. That's how we can see it. Also closely related to "He is a sport"; "Take it sportively".
– Kris
2 days ago
Possibly related to the use of 'sport' as an approving noun relating to a person. For example "Thanks for doing that, you're a sport" and "Tim is a sport, he's game for anything". Also "sport" seems to be used by Australians almost as a synonym for "mate" as in "G'day sport". My guess is that a "sport" was originally a personable debonair person and that "sporting" a beard or a showy piece of clothing indicated attractive confidence and a "sporting" nature.
– BoldBen
2 days ago
As I said, it's really the other way. To show off is first to feel proud of it and then to exhibit it, right?
– Kris
2 days ago
Ram those two definitions into each other and you've got it, pretty much exactly.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
To sport something to have or wear something in a proud way:
to sport a beard,
she was sporting a T-shirt with the company's logo on it. (OLD)
The etymology of sport as a verb don’t appear to refers the above usage:
c. 1400, "to take pleasure, to amuse oneself," from Old French desporter, deporter "to divert, amuse, please, play; to seek amusement," literally "carry away" (the mind from serious matters).
and the only later connotation of sport as a noun that seems somewhat related is:
Sense of "stylish man" is from 1861, American English, probably because they lived by gambling and betting on races. (Etymonline)
Questions:
A) where does the above connotation come from?
B) is it a recent slang usage or does it have an older origin?
word-usage etymology slang
To sport something to have or wear something in a proud way:
to sport a beard,
she was sporting a T-shirt with the company's logo on it. (OLD)
The etymology of sport as a verb don’t appear to refers the above usage:
c. 1400, "to take pleasure, to amuse oneself," from Old French desporter, deporter "to divert, amuse, please, play; to seek amusement," literally "carry away" (the mind from serious matters).
and the only later connotation of sport as a noun that seems somewhat related is:
Sense of "stylish man" is from 1861, American English, probably because they lived by gambling and betting on races. (Etymonline)
Questions:
A) where does the above connotation come from?
B) is it a recent slang usage or does it have an older origin?
word-usage etymology slang
word-usage etymology slang
edited 2 days ago
asked 2 days ago
user240918
23.1k863143
23.1k863143
To sport = "to amuse oneself" (with something), esp. in front of others. That's how we can see it. Also closely related to "He is a sport"; "Take it sportively".
– Kris
2 days ago
Possibly related to the use of 'sport' as an approving noun relating to a person. For example "Thanks for doing that, you're a sport" and "Tim is a sport, he's game for anything". Also "sport" seems to be used by Australians almost as a synonym for "mate" as in "G'day sport". My guess is that a "sport" was originally a personable debonair person and that "sporting" a beard or a showy piece of clothing indicated attractive confidence and a "sporting" nature.
– BoldBen
2 days ago
As I said, it's really the other way. To show off is first to feel proud of it and then to exhibit it, right?
– Kris
2 days ago
Ram those two definitions into each other and you've got it, pretty much exactly.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
add a comment |
To sport = "to amuse oneself" (with something), esp. in front of others. That's how we can see it. Also closely related to "He is a sport"; "Take it sportively".
– Kris
2 days ago
Possibly related to the use of 'sport' as an approving noun relating to a person. For example "Thanks for doing that, you're a sport" and "Tim is a sport, he's game for anything". Also "sport" seems to be used by Australians almost as a synonym for "mate" as in "G'day sport". My guess is that a "sport" was originally a personable debonair person and that "sporting" a beard or a showy piece of clothing indicated attractive confidence and a "sporting" nature.
– BoldBen
2 days ago
As I said, it's really the other way. To show off is first to feel proud of it and then to exhibit it, right?
– Kris
2 days ago
Ram those two definitions into each other and you've got it, pretty much exactly.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
To sport = "to amuse oneself" (with something), esp. in front of others. That's how we can see it. Also closely related to "He is a sport"; "Take it sportively".
– Kris
2 days ago
To sport = "to amuse oneself" (with something), esp. in front of others. That's how we can see it. Also closely related to "He is a sport"; "Take it sportively".
– Kris
2 days ago
Possibly related to the use of 'sport' as an approving noun relating to a person. For example "Thanks for doing that, you're a sport" and "Tim is a sport, he's game for anything". Also "sport" seems to be used by Australians almost as a synonym for "mate" as in "G'day sport". My guess is that a "sport" was originally a personable debonair person and that "sporting" a beard or a showy piece of clothing indicated attractive confidence and a "sporting" nature.
– BoldBen
2 days ago
Possibly related to the use of 'sport' as an approving noun relating to a person. For example "Thanks for doing that, you're a sport" and "Tim is a sport, he's game for anything". Also "sport" seems to be used by Australians almost as a synonym for "mate" as in "G'day sport". My guess is that a "sport" was originally a personable debonair person and that "sporting" a beard or a showy piece of clothing indicated attractive confidence and a "sporting" nature.
– BoldBen
2 days ago
As I said, it's really the other way. To show off is first to feel proud of it and then to exhibit it, right?
– Kris
2 days ago
As I said, it's really the other way. To show off is first to feel proud of it and then to exhibit it, right?
– Kris
2 days ago
Ram those two definitions into each other and you've got it, pretty much exactly.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
Ram those two definitions into each other and you've got it, pretty much exactly.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago
add a comment |
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To sport = "to amuse oneself" (with something), esp. in front of others. That's how we can see it. Also closely related to "He is a sport"; "Take it sportively".
– Kris
2 days ago
Possibly related to the use of 'sport' as an approving noun relating to a person. For example "Thanks for doing that, you're a sport" and "Tim is a sport, he's game for anything". Also "sport" seems to be used by Australians almost as a synonym for "mate" as in "G'day sport". My guess is that a "sport" was originally a personable debonair person and that "sporting" a beard or a showy piece of clothing indicated attractive confidence and a "sporting" nature.
– BoldBen
2 days ago
As I said, it's really the other way. To show off is first to feel proud of it and then to exhibit it, right?
– Kris
2 days ago
Ram those two definitions into each other and you've got it, pretty much exactly.
– Hot Licks
2 days ago