Debut
mid 18th century: from French début, from débuter ‘lead off’.
wiktionary
From French début, from Middle French, derivative of débuter(“to move, begin”), from dé- + but(“mark, goal”), from Old French but(“aim, goal, end, target”), from Old French butte(“mound, knoll, target”), from Frankish *but(“stump, log”), or from Old Norse bútr(“log, stump, butt”); both from Proto-Germanic *butą(“end, piece”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeud-(“to beat, push”). Cognate with Old English butt(“tree stump”). More at butt.
etymonline
debut (n.)
"first appearance in public or before society," 1751, from French début "first appearance," a figurative use from débuter "make the first stroke at billiards," also "to lead off at bowls" (a game akin to bowling), 16c., from but "mark, goal," from Old French but "end" (see butt (n.3)). The verb is first attested 1830. Related: Debuted; debuting.
Début can only be pronounced as French, and should not be used by anyone who shrinks from the necessary effort. [Fowler]
