socket
UK[ˈsɒkɪt]US[ˈsɑːkɪt]
n
A natural or artificial hollow part or opening into which something fits.
n
A device on a piece of electrical equipment into which a plug can be pushed to make a connection.
Morpheme Breakdown
sock
et
sock
hollow
et
diminutive suffix
Etymology
The word 'socket' has a surprisingly earthy origin. It entered English in the Middle Ages from Anglo-Norman French soket, a diminutive form of soc, meaning a ploughshare—the pointed, hollow blade of a plough. The diminutive suffix '-et' literally meant 'a little ploughshare'. This term was then applied to any hollow, cup-like fitting, such as the socket of an eye or a bone joint. By the 19th century, this concept of a hollow receptacle was logically extended to the fittings for candles and, later, to the electrical fittings designed to receive a plug.
Analysis
Structure: sock (hollow) + et (diminutive suffix)
- sock: From Middle English sok (a ploughshare), from Old French soc (ploughshare), likely of Celtic origin. In this word, it carries the sense of a hollow, blade-like part.
- et: A diminutive suffix of Old French origin, used to form nouns denoting a small version of something.
Examples
The bulb is designed to fit securely into a standard light socket.
He felt a sharp pain in his shoulder where the ball had popped out of its socket.
Make sure the plug is firmly inserted into the wall socket before switching on the appliance.