▪ I. console, n.
(ˈkɒnsəʊl)
Also consol.
[a. F. console (16th c.): Littré suggests that it is abbreviated from consolider to consolidate.]
1. a. Arch. A variety of the bracket or corbel; applied more particularly to an ornamental chock of uniform breadth or face, its profile a straight-lined or scroll-shaped figure or foliage (usually an ogee curve terminating in a volute above and below), surmounted by a horizontal tablet; fixed upright against a wall or other surface and serving singly as a ledge to support something. Also, a similar figure carved in relief on a keystone, etc., for ornament, the horizontal tablet being frequently absent.
| 1706 Phillips, Console (Fr. in Masonry), a kind of Bracket or Shouldering-piece that juts out, and serves to support a Cornice, or to bear up Figures, Busts, Vessels and other Ornaments of the like Nature. 1754 R. Pococke Trav. (1889) II. 139 The drawing-room, in which, on consoles, are the twelve Caesars. 1835 Beckford Alcobaca & B. in Miss Yonge Cameos (1877) II. xiv. 159 The graceful arching of the roof, unsupported by console or column. c 1856 Archit. Publ. Soc. Dict. s.v. Bracket, The difference between a block, a cantilever, a console, a modillion, a mutule, and a tassel, depends chiefly upon the place in which each of these varieties of the bracket or corbel is employed. Ibid., Console..an ornament in any material which projects about half its height or less, for the purpose of carrying anything. 1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. xv. §124 (1875) 352 The bust that stands on the console. |
b. The ‘carrier’ of a breech-loading gun, a kind of bracket-truss for supporting the breech-screw when withdrawn preparatory to loading.
| 1882 Notes on Constr. of Ordnance (U.S.) No. 1. 20 July 1 If [the gas] meets with an obstacle, as the arm of the console, it will result in the breaking of the hinge that unites it to the gun. 1890 Engineering 31 Jan. XLIX. 109/3. |
c. Used in U.S. for a bracket on a wall for supporting machinery, and the like.
2. a. Short for console-table (see 4).
| 1840 L. S. Costello Summer among Bocages I. 376 A fine bed and marble-topped console. 1856 Lever Martins of Cro' M. 2 Inlaid consoles and costly tables of ‘Marqueterie’. |
b. A cabinet for a gramophone, radio, television set, tape recorder, etc. Also attrib. orig. U.S.
| 1925–6 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Fall & Winter 391/1 The new model console phonograph. 1926–27 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 599 Console Cabinet... A cabinet that is designed to accommodate a radio receiver, charger and all batteries. 1958 Economist 26 July 271/2 Some present tape-recorders..do not need to be portable... In recognition of this, console models have been on the market. |
3. a. A case or frame enclosing the claviers, draw-knobs, etc., of an organ; esp. when separate from the body of the instrument, as in organs with electric action.
[Originally bracketed out from the body of the organ, like the keyboard of a cottage piano.]
| 1881 C. A. Edwards Organs 67 The term consol, or the French form console, is used in referring to the complete claviers, draw-knobs, etc., when set up separately at a distance from the body of the instrument..or more particularly where the electric action is used. 1885 Engineer 28 Aug. 156/1 The console is placed almost in the centre of the screen [at Westminster Abbey]. 1891 Discovery 1 Feb. 6 This cable terminates..on the organist's key desk or ‘console’, as it is called. From this ‘console’ the current passes..to the various sounding parts of the instrument. |
b. A desk, cabinet, or the like, incorporating switches, dials, etc., for the control of electrical or other apparatus; a control panel; a switchboard. Also attrib.
| 1944 R. H. Delany in Proc. Inst. Radio Engin. XXXII. 600 A broadcast-studio control console. Ibid., A plywood mockup was made of the proposed console cabinet. 1946 Electronic Engin. XVIII. 360 The console unit..forms the central unit from which the set is controlled and where the Radar information is presented. 1948 Gloss. Techn. Theatr. Terms (Strand Electric Co.) 8 Console, a mobile remote control for stage lighting resembling and using certain of the accessories of the cinema organ. 1951 Engineering 27 July 101/3 A console in which are grouped all the controllers and recorders for operating an industrial..plant. 1961 G. Millerson Telev. Production i. 16 Liaison with the lighting director..can be facilitated by arranging adjacent video control and lighting consoles. 1964 T. W. McRae Impact of Computers on Accounting viii. 236 The person who operates the computer is called the console operator. 1966 New Yorker 12 Nov. 100 An enormous computer console. |
4. Comb. console-table, a table supported by a fixed bracket against a wall; also, a movable side-table supported by consoles; console-mirror, a mirror fixed to the wall supported on a console.
| 1813 Examiner 1 Feb. 71/2 Sofas, fauteuils, console-tables. 1863 J. Brown Horæ Subs. (1882) 166 She caught sight of her own face in a console mirror. 1874 Contemp. Rev. Oct. 759 For chimney pieces or console tables such a mode of treatment may be legitimate. 1888 Sale & Exch. 13 Sept. 5/2 A fine old gilt console table with marble top..with splendid plate glass over. Total height about 9 ft. |
▸ = games console n. at game n. Additions.
| 1976 U.S. News & World Rep. (Nexis) 29 Nov. 73 A new variety of electronic game that can be hooked up to the family TV set. Most recent development is a small console with replaceable cartridge to provide a large number of game selections. 1983 Chain Store Age (Gen. Merchandise ed.) (Nexis) Jan. 111 The basic Atari systems may be the strongest-selling units, but all buyers are looking for exceptionally strong growth from more sophisticated games and consoles. 2000 Daily Tel. 16 Mar. (Connected section) 3/4 It is entirely possible, of course, that Microsoft could make a complete hash of its first foray into the console world. |
▪ II. console, v.
(kənˈsəʊl)
[a. F. console-r (15th c. in Littré) (= Sp. consolar, It. consolare), ad. L. consōlāre, collateral form of consōlārī, f. con- + sōlārī to solace, soothe. A late word which has taken the place of the earlier consolate.]
trans. To comfort in mental distress or depression; to alleviate the sorrow of (any one); ‘to free from the sense of misery’ (J.).
| 1693 Dryden Juvenal x, Till I, thy consul sole, consol'd thy doom. 1742 Pope Dunc. iv. 542 Others the Syren Sisters warble round, And empty heads console with empty sound. 1761 J. Dewes in Mrs. Delany's Corr. 8 July, I am but poorly qualified at present to console you upon the great loss you have sustained. 1794 Hurd Life Warburton in W.'s Wks. (1811) I. 23 Mr. Pope..consoled himself and his friend with this sarcastic reflexion. 1871 R. F. Weymouth Euph. 8 Euphues seeks to console Eubulus on the death of his daughter. |
| absol. 1821 Shelley Prometh. Unb. i. 820 Earth can console, Heaven can torment no more. |