huguenot

== French == === Etymology === Usually derived from Middle French eiguenot, eyguenotz (“Swiss confederate; kind of soldier”), from German Eidgenosse (“confederate; Swiss person”), from Eid (“oath”) + Genosse (“companion”). It would then appear that the singular in -t is a French backformation from the plural, although it has also been compared to the Dutch eedgenoot (eed + genoot). An alternate theory considers it a diminutive of Hugues (“Hugh”). The theory states that the term was originally used by Savoyard Roman Catholic supporters of the ruling Savoy dynasty as a derogatory designation (later embraced by Geneva republicans and by French Calvinists), with a meaning similar to "little Hughey", after the surname of Geneva burgomaster Besançon Hugues, who (though a Catholic himself) supported and participated in the rebellion against the rule of the Savoy dynasty, which led to the independence of Geneva in 1526. See Huguenot on Wikipedia for more. === Pronunciation === (aspirated h) IPA(key): /yɡ.no/ IPA(key): /yɡ.nɔ/ (older, now chiefly Belgium) Rhymes: -o, -ɔ === Adjective === huguenot (feminine huguenote, masculine plural huguenots, feminine plural huguenotes) Huguenot === Noun === huguenot m (plural huguenots) Huguenot === Derived terms === huguenoterie huguenotique huguenotisme === Descendants === → Spanish: hugonote === References === James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Huguenot”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC. Brachet, A., An Etymological Dictionary of the French Language [Crowned by the French Academy], translated by G.W. Kitchin, 3rd ed., Oxford, 1882. === Further reading === “huguenot”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012