French

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === (UK, US) enPR: frĕnch, IPA(key): /fɹɛnt͡ʃ/ Rhymes: -ɛntʃ === Proper noun === French (countable and uncountable, plural Frenches) (chiefly uncountable) The language of France, shared by the neighboring countries Belgium, Monaco, and Switzerland and by former French colonies around the world. Synonyms: fr, fre (symbols) c. 1390, Robert Grosseteste, translating Chateau d'Amour as The Castle of Love, ll. 25 ff.: Ne mowe we alle Latin wite...Ne French... 1533, Thomas More, The Debellacyon of Salem & Bizance, fol. 96: I... wolde also be bolde in such french as is peculiare to the lawys of this realme, to leue it wyth them in wrytynge to. (uncountable) The ability of a person to communicate in French. 1742 April 4, R. West, letter to Thomas Gray: [Racine's] language is the language of the times, and that of the purest sort; so that his French is reckoned a standard. (uncountable) French language and literature as an object of study. (uncountable, euphemistic, now often ironic) Vulgar language. 1986, John Hughes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off': Cameron: Pardon my French, but you're an asshole! (countable) A surname originating as an ethnonym. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== ⇒ American Sign Language: 9@InsideNeckhigh-PalmDown 9@SideNeckhigh-PalmUp → Choctaw: Filanchi → Punjabi: ਫ਼੍ਰੈਂਚ (fraiñc) → Tumbuka: Cifurenci → Zulu: isiFulentshi ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== Wiktionary’s coverage of French terms Appendix:French Swadesh list for a Swadesh list of basic vocabulary words in French === Noun === French (countable and uncountable, plural French or Frenches) (chiefly collective and in the plural) The people of France; groups of French people. (uncountable, dated slang, sex) Synonym of oral sex, especially fellatio. (chiefly uncountable, dated slang) Ellipsis of French vermouth, a type of dry vermouth. (countable, non-native speakers' English) A French person. ==== Usage notes ==== The use of the plural form Frenches occurred in early modern English but is only exceptionally encountered in contemporary English. As with other collective demonyms, French is preceded by the definite article or some other determiner when referring to the people of France collectively. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Zulu: iFulentshi ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === French (comparative more French or Frencher, superlative most French or Frenchest) Of or relating to France. Of or relating to the people or culture of France. Hypernym: European Of or relating to the French language. Hypernym: Indo-European (slang, sexuality) Of or related to oral sex, especially fellatio. Coordinate term: straight French active ― person who is fellated French girl ― a prostitute who offers fellatio (informal, often euphemistic) Used to form names or references to venereal diseases. French disease ― a venereal disease French crown ― hair loss from venereal disease French pox ― syphillis Used to form names or references to an unconventional or fancy style. French curve ― drafting template having edges of various curvatures French cut ― sliced lengthwise in thin strips French fries ― french cut potato fries French kiss ― kissing with the tongue French manicure ― painting white under the finger nails French window or French door ― double wooden windows or doors crafted with panes of glass French refrigerator ― continuous refrigerator space on top accessed by two doors, with a freezer drawer below French polish ― type of glossy varnish for wood French inhale ― act of expelling cigarette smoke from the mouth and simultaneously inhaling it through the nose French exit or French leave ― hasty exit made without saying farewells to anybody French toast ― Food prepared by dipping bread into egg batter and frying ==== Synonyms ==== Gallian, Gallic, Gaulish ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Choctaw: Filanchi → Tamil: பிரஞ்சு (pirañcu) ==== Translations ==== === Verb === French (third-person singular simple present Frenches, present participle Frenching, simple past and past participle Frenched) Alternative letter-case form of french. ==== Alternative forms ==== french ==== Derived terms ==== Frenched ==== Translations ==== === See also === Franco- === References === “French, adj. & n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. "Where did the term 'Pardon my French' come from...", /r/AskHistorians, 2018. === Further reading === ISO 639-1 code fr, ISO 639-3 code fra (SIL) Ethnologue entry for French, fra ⁠