French
adjEtymology
Inherited from Middle English Frenche, Frensch, Frensc, Frenshe, Frenk, Franche, from Old English Frenċisċ (“Frankish, French”), from Proto-West Germanic *Frankisk (“Frankish”), equivalent to Frank + -ish (compare Frankish). Cognate with Middle Low German vranksch, frenkisch, vrenkesch, vrenksch (“Frankish, French”), Middle High German vrenkisch, vrensch ("Frankish, Franconian; > German fränkisch (“Frankish, Franconian”)), Danish fransk (“French”), Swedish fransk, fransysk (“French”), Icelandic franska (“French”). Doublet of Frankish; piecewise doublet of Francis, Franz, and Francisco, which are derived from Late Latin Franciscus In reference to vulgar language, from expressions such as pardon my French in the early 19th century, originally in reference to actual (but often mildly impolite) French expressions by the upper class, subsequently adopted ironically by the lower class for English curse words under the charitable conceit that the listener would not be familiar with them. In reference to vermouth, a shortened form of French vermouth, distinguished as usually being drier than Italian vermouth.
Of or relating to France.
- the French border with Italy
- That must have hurt, especially because you knew the French children weren’t even trying. “Uh, go on, play weez your seellee nambeurs. Zey tell you nosseeng of ze true naytcheur of ze soula. I’ll weepa for you.”2015 May 3, “Standardized Testing”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 2, episode 12, John Oliver (actor), via HBO:
Of or relating to the people or culture of France.
- French customs
Of or relating to the French language.
- French verbs
- French active
- French girl
1 more example
- She was a tall redhead, with a shape that would make you jump for joy and a reputation as the best French girl in the place.1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Not too Far Tangent”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 23:
Euphemistic, Informal, Often Used to form names or references to venereal diseases.
- French disease
- French crown
1 more example
- French pox
Used to form names or references to an unconventional or fancy style.
- French curve
- French cut
4 more examples
- French fries
- French kiss
- French manicure
- French window or French door
- Synonyms
- Gallian, Gallic, Gaulish
- Derived terms
173 terms
First French Empire, Free French, French Algeria, French Alps, French and Indian War, French and Iroquois Wars, French augmented sixth chord, French bassoon, French bean, french bean, French bed, French berry, French bishop, French braid, French bread, French Broad, French Bulldog, French Canada, French Canadian, French-Canadian, French canon, French casement, French Cay, French chair, French chalk, French cleat, French Community, French Congo, French corner, French cotton, French cowslip, French cricket, French cuff, French curl, French curve, French-cut, French defence, French defense, French Defence, French dip, French disease, French donut, French door, French drain, French dressing, french dressing, French drop, French endive, French Equatorial Africa, French exit, French fact, French fake, French filet bean, French fits, French franc, French fries, french fries, French green bean, French grey, French grip, French Guiana, French Guianese, French Guinea, French Guyana, French harp, French honeysuckle, French horn, French hornist, Frenchie, Frenchification, Frenchify, French India, French Indochina, French inhale, French Island, French kiss, French kissing, French knickers, French knot, French lavender, French leave, French letter, French Lick, French lilac, French loaf, French lock, French Louisiana, French maid, Frenchman, French manicure, French marigold, French melon, French Morocco, French mulberry, French mullet, French mustard, French New Wave, French new wave, French North America, French onion soup, French pancake, French paradox, French parfait, French partridge, French pedicure, French pie, French plait, French polish, French polishing, French Polynesia, French Polynesian, French pox, French press, French purple, French Quarter, French red, French Republic, French Republican Calendar, French Revolution, French Revolutionary Calendar, French rice, French River, French Riviera, French roast, French roll, French roof, French rose, French ruff, French rye, French sash, French seam, French seventy-five, French Sign Language, French skipping, French sole, French Somaliland, French sorrel, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, French spacing, French Spaniel, French spinach, French stick, French-style, French Sudan, French taco, French Territory of the Afars and the Issas, French tickler, French tip, French toast, french toast, French-toasty, French Togoland, Frenchtown, French trumpet, French tub, French turban, French Turn, French twist, French Union, French valve, French vanilla, Frenchville, French West Africa, French willow, French window, french window, French wire, Frenchwoman, Frenchy, Missouri French, take French leave, take a French leave, Vichy French