• Original language: English
  • Original form and meaning: 1.) 'a wide divergence in views, sympathies, development etc.', +2.) 'a wide divergence in technology (e.g. missile gap) and economy' [+ stands for additional meanings that are not English in origin (semantic pseudo-anglicisms)]


(Note: If the status is not specifically indicated then the word is stylistically neutral and generally used; if earlier meaning and status equals current use the former may be expressed by writing "dito". Cf. also the project guidelines.)


Language Form Date of Borrowing (and Obsolescence) Current Meaning and Status Earlier Meanings and Statusses Source
Catalan ... ... '...' '...' ...
Croatian ... ... '...' '...' ...
Czech ... ... '...' '...' ...
Danish ... ... '...' '...' ...
Dutch gap [= Engl. pron.] 1990s meaning +2; status: restricted to technical use DEA*
English gap [gæp] 14c, from O.N. gap 'chasm', related to Swedish gap, Danish gap 'open moth, opening' meanings: originally 'a break or opening in a wall, fence, etc.', broader sense is 16c: 'a break in a continuity; interruption', 'a break in a line of hills, or mountains affording a route through', (chiefly U.S.) 'a gorge or ravine', 'a divergence or difference; disparity', (Electronics) 'a break in a magnetic circuit that that increases the inductance and saturation point of the circuit' Collins English Dictionary (4th ed.), Etymonline [1]
Estonian ... ... '...' '...' ...
Finnish ... ... '...' '...' ...
French gap [gap] 1950s meaning +2; status: restricted use, obsolescent DEA*
Frisian ... ... '...' '...' ...
German gap 1960s meanings 1 and +2; status: restricted to journalese, less frequent than Lücke DEA*
Hungarian gap [= Engl. pron.] 1970s meaning +2; status: restricted to computer technology DEA*
Irish ... ... '...' '...' ...
Italian gap [gεp] 1960s meanings 1 and +2; status: restricted to technical use DEA*
Latvian ... ... '...' '...' ...
Lithuanian ... ... '...' '...' ...
Maltese ... ... '...' '...' ...
Norwegian not known, native kløft used instead - - - DEA*
Polish ... ... '...' '...' ...
Portuguese ... ... '...' '...' ...
Rumantsch ... ... '...' '...' ...
Slovak ... ... '...' '...' ...
Slovenian ... ... '...' '...' ...
Spanish gap [gap] 1980s meanings 1 and +2; status: restricted to technical use DEA*
Swedish ... ... '...' '...' ...
  • Annotations: *DEA = Dictionary of European Anglicisms by Manfred Görlach (2001), Oxford: OUP.

Information on Other Languages

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  • Greek: not known, native khasma used instead,