As some of you know, I build and fly model airplanes in order to keep from having to grow up.
I've become interested in why French and Spanish have just one word for "scale model," whereas we have to use two words to describe a reduced size rendering of an actual aeroplane. Where do "maquette" (French) and "maqueta" (Spanish) come from? I assume Latin, but I can't find it.

According to the online Trésor de la Langue Française Informatisé, it's "a loan from the Italian macchietta 'sketch' ... properly 'small spot' ... derived from the diminutive of macchia 'spot' from Latin macula 'spot, stain. blemish' (cf. maille 'spot, dot, speck')". Cf. macchiato '(a kind of coffee marked with milk)'.

More thoughts on Asa's question, why do Fr&Sp need only one word for "scale model"...

Maquette/maqueta is also translated as "mock-up". The idea that the mock-up is a miniature done to scale is hinted at by the diminutive form (ette/ eta). However, the same word is used in printing, in a context where we would probably say "master", and do not think of it as a small version.

For a similar idea, "scale drawing", Fr&Sp refer directly to 'scale', as does English: "dessin à l'échelle", "dibujo a escala".

quote:

Maquette/maqueta is also translated as "mock-up"

Is that where "mock-up" comes from?

I've long assumed that "mock-up" was most often at full size, so that seems to be a change in meaning - but what's new!?!?

Since
"maquette & maqueta" are from an Italian word, how do they say "scale model?" And what about Romanian, the Romance language with a slavic accent?

I think modellismo statico is scale modeling. So, perhaps modello statico? I'll ask a colleague at work from Romania about the Romanian term. (I look forward to the strange look he'll give me.)

I'm still waiting for your answer, zmježd.

I'm still waiting for your answer

Sorry about that, Asa. I no longer work at that company and have lost touch with the Romanian.

OK, I'll see if I can find a local Romanian, of which there are several.