OpenEtymology

zine

UKziːnUSziːn

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Meaning

1n

A small-circulation, non-commercial magazine or newsletter, often produced by an individual or a small group and focused on a specialized subject.

Usage

She started a punk music zine to review local bands.

The digital age has seen many paper zines move to online platforms.

He collects vintage science fiction fanzines from the 1970s.

Etymology

The word 'zine' is a modern English clipping, a linguistic process where a longer word is shortened. It derives directly from the final syllable of 'magazine', which itself entered English from French 'magasin' (meaning "storehouse"), via Italian 'magazzino', from Arabic 'makhāzin', the plural of 'makhzan' ("storehouse"). The semantic shift from "storehouse" to "periodical publication" occurred in the 18th century, reflecting the concept of a publication as a repository of articles and ideas. In the late 20th century, the counterculture and fan communities clipped 'magazine' to create 'zine', specifying a grassroots, self-published, and often non-commercial format, thus distinguishing it from mainstream periodicals.

Analysis

The word is a clipped form, not composed of productive morphemes in its current spelling. It originates from the final syllable of the word 'magazine'.

Zine Meaning, Examples & Word Origin | OpenEtymology