▪ I. French, a. and n.
(frɛn(t)ʃ)
Forms: 1 fręncisc, 3 frenkis, (4 frenkysch), 3–4 frankys, frankis, 3 Frenchis, freinsse, frence, frenchs, frenynch, frensc, (frennssce), frenysch, 3–5 Frensch(e, 3, 6 franch(e, 3–6 frensh(e, 4 freynsch, 4, 6 frenche, 5 frenssh(e, 3– French.
[OE. fręncisc, f. franc-a Frank n.1 + -isc, -ish; the suffix produces umlaut. With respect to the contraction, which began in early ME., cf. Welsh from OE. wielisc, Scotch from Scottish.
The equivalent continental Teut. frankisk-, Latinized as franciscus, became in OF. franceis, -ois, mod.F. fran{cced}ais; but the fem. franceise instead of francesche shows that the termination was very early confused with -eis:—L. -ēnsis (see -ese).]
A. adj.
1. a. Of or pertaining to France or its inhabitants.
| O.E. Chron. an. 1003 (Laud MS.), Her wæs Eaxeceaster abrocen þurh þone Frenciscan ceorl Hugon. c 1205 Lay. 3239 Aganippus þe Frennsce king. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 81 Ðes frenkis men o france moal, it nemnen ‘un jur natural’. c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 118 Thi bowe is bent Newly now after the Frensche gyse. a 1490 Botoner Itin. (Nasmith 1778) 125 Trewrew, a frensh priorie. 1529 Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.) 52 Nowe the Frenshe fasshyon, nowe the Spanyshe fasshyon. 1592 G. Harvey Four Lett. Wks. (Grosart) I. 174 Such French occurrences..as the credible relation of inquisitiue frendes..shall acquaint me withall. 1612 Webster White Devil (Rtldg.) 34/2, I have a rare French rider. a 1687 Petty Polit. Arith. iv. (1691) 85 The value of the French commodities brought into England. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 350 ¶1 An Engagement between a French Privateer..and a little Vessel of that Place. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 120 It was eighteen feet and an half, French measure, in length. 1782 Cowper Truth 128 An Indian mystic or a French recluse. |
¶ Misused for: Gaulish.
Obs.| 1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. Pref. in Arb. Garner III. 57 For killing Viridomax the French king in [the] field at the river of Padua. 1616 Budden tr. ærodius' Disc. Parent's Hon. 4 C. Flaminius..which enacted the law about the partage of some french grounds. |
b. with reference to the language, its words or phrases, compositions written in it, etc.
Partly an
attrib. use of the
n. French class, a class to which French is taught; so
French master.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 24 Sanges sere of selcuth rime, Inglis, frankys, and latine. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶174 Thilke newe frenshe song. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 375 His stock a few French phrases got by heart. 1870 Dickens E. Drood iii, The French class becomes so demoralised that [etc.]. |
† c. French Fox: a game of some kind.
Obs.| 1759 Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) III. 575 How do you think we warmed and amused outselves? Why I taught them French Fox. |
d. French-Canadian.
| 1673 Hudson's Bay Co. Minutes (1942) 59 That Mr. Kirke bee desired to treate for provideing Such french goodes as may be necessary. 1842 Montreal Transcript 15 Nov. 2/2 The murderer of lieut. Weir..could be returned as member for any French County in Lower Canada. 1963 W. L. Morton Kingdom of Canada 334 The attitude..spread to the French element in Red River. |
2. a. Having the qualities attributed to French persons or things; French-like.
† French fare: ? elaborately polite behaviour.
| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1116 Syþen with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lotez Þay stoden, & stemed & stylly speken. ? a 1500 Chester Pl., Noah's Flood 100 For all thy frankish fare I will not doe after thy red. 1606 W. Birnie Kirk-Buriall (1833) 13 So french hes men beene in their fashions. 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. i. 168 If any place be more French then Paris. 1710 Acc. Distemp. T. Whigg i. 6 Their Frowns, French shrugs..Laughing [etc.]. 1749 Lady Luxborough Lett. to Shenstone 28 Nov., As the French style..is fashionable. 1784 Cowper Tiroc. 670 His address, if not quite French at ease, Not English stiff, but frank, and formed to please. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho i, Their sprightly melodies, debonnaire steps [etc.]..gave a character to the scene entirely French. |
b. With the implication of ‘spiciness’.
French kissing (see
quot. 1965); so
French kiss n. and v.| [1749 Fielding Tom Jones V. xiii. ix. 75, I am so far from desiring to exhibit such Pictures to the Public, that I would wish to draw a Curtain over those..in certain French novels.] 1842 R. Browning Bells & Pomegranates III. 6/2 My scrofulous French novel On grey paper with blunt type! 1850 Thackeray Pendennis II. xxx. 305 Young De Boots..recognised you as the man who..did business one-third in money,..and one-third in French prints. 1922 Galsworthy Windows iii. 28 Mother, I'd no idea you were so—French. 1923 J. Manchon Le Slang 130 French kiss, baiser très appuyé. 1926 Galsworthy Silver Spoon ii. viii. 181, I don't advise you to read it; it's very French. 1930 J. Dos Passos 42nd Parallel v. 390 She taught him how to frenchkiss and would stroke his hair. 1931 ‘D. Stiff’ Milk & Honey Route xiv. 152 At one time the hobo enjoyed almost exclusively the ‘French post cards’ (called ‘American cards’ in France). 1959 G. Endore Detour through Devon 166 And in our slang, French means ‘perverted’. 1960 V. Nabokov Invitation to Beheading xix. 192 A cursory inspection of the prison collection of French postcards. 1960 J. Updike Rabbit, Run (1961) 147 Sometimes just French kissing.., sloppy tongues and nobody can breathe. 1965 W. Young Eros Denied xxvii. 271 In England..we call.. kissing with the tongue in the other's mouth French kissing. 1967 A. Wilson No Laughing Matter v. 450, I might give you a nice French kiss. |
3. a. In names of things of actual or attributed French origin, as
French barley (see
barley);
French bed (see
quot. 1965); hence
French bedstead;
French-bit (see
quot.);
French blue, (
a) artificial ultramarine; (
b)
colloq. (see
quot. 1964);
French-boiler (see
quot.);
French brace, (
a) a type of breast-drill; (
b) in a theatre, a hinged brace (see
quot. 1967);
French bread, a kind of fancy bread;
French brush, a brush used for rubbing down horses;
French casement (see
quot. and
cf. French window);
French-chalk, a variety of steatite, used for making marks on cloth, removing grease-spots, and (in powder) as a dry lubricant for boots and gloves;
v. trans., to clean or mark with French chalk;
French clock, a clock made in France;
usu. applied to an elaborately decorated clock of the eighteenth century;
French cricket, an informal type of cricket without stumps in which a player is out if the ‘bowler’ succeeds in getting the ball past the bat so that it hits the legs of the batsman;
French curve, a template used for drawing curved lines;
French defence, a defence in Chess in which Black replies to an opening move of P-K4 by White with P-K3; also
ellipt.;
French door N. Amer. = French window;
French drain, a rubble-drain;
French dressing, a salad-dressing consisting of vinegar and oil, usually with added flavouring;
† French eaves, eaves provided with a gutter to carry off the water;
French fake, a variety of the Flemish fake (in Young
Naut. Dict. 1846);
French 'flu, excessive fondness for all things French (an expression first used by A. Koestler);
French-flyers (see
quot.);
French fried potatoes, potato chips (see
chip n.1 2 b); also
French fried(s), used
absol., and
French fries;
French-grey (see
quot. 1862);
French hem (see
quot.);
French horn, a metal wind-instrument (see
horn);
French knot (see
quot. 1964);
French letter colloq., a contraceptive and disease-preventing sheath,
= condom;
† French lock, ? a kind of shackle for a horse's foot;
French maid, a lady's maid of French origin,
freq. employed in the Victorian and Edwardian eras as a status symbol;
† French panel, some kind of wainscoting;
French paste (see
quot.);
French pink (see
pink);
French purple (see
quot.);
French red,
rouge (see
quots.);
French Revolution = revolution n. 9;
French rice = amelcorn;
French roll: see
roll;
French roof, a mansard roof;
† French rowel, a kind of seton for a horse;
French salt, ?
= bay salt;
French sewing (see
quots.);
† French shroudknot (see
quot.);
French sixth Mus. (see
quot.);
French toast, any of various kinds of toasted bread (see
quots.);
French tub,
tuning (see
quots.);
French white (see
quot.);
French window, a long window opening like a folding-door, and serving for exit and entrance.
| 1661 Specif. Burneby's Patent No. 133 That sort of barley commonly called..*French barley. 1770 Latham in Phil. Trans. LX. 451 He followed the trade of a miller, and maker of French barley. |
| 1825 H. Wilson Mem. IV. 38, I pointed..towards the small *French bed. 1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby II. iv. vii. 77 Under ordinary circumstances a French bed and a brasier of charcoal alone remained for Villebecque, who was equal to the occasion. 1852 Ruskin Let. 25 Mar. in M. Lutyens Effie in Venice (1965) ii. 288 Tell Mr Snell not to put a four poster—but a large French bed in the bedroom at Herne hill. 1853 C. Brontë Villette I. i. 4 My own French bed in its shady recess. 1965 J. Aronson Encycl. Furnit. (1966) 234/1 French bed, roll-end bedstead without posts. 1967 D. Mackenzie Death is Friend 23 The French bed had a velvet padded headboard. |
| 1837 Dickens Pickw. xii. 115 The large man..condensed himself into the limits of a dwarfish *French bedstead. 1842 ― Amer. Notes I. iii. 142 Our bedroom was spacious and airy..having no curtains to the French bedstead or to the window. 1868 C. L. Eastlake Hints Household Taste viii. 185 To the four-poster succeeded..the French bedstead, of which the head and foot-piece were in shape and size alike, and over which two curtains fell, sometimes from a pole fixed at the side, and sometimes from a small circular canopy attached to the ceiling. 1878 H. James Europeans I. iv. 131 She can have the large north-east room. And the French bedstead. 1901 Mrs. A. Praga How to Furnish i. 29 We must reserve {pstlg}2 5s., for..a black and brass French bedstead,..a double-woven steel wire mattress, a wool mattress, bolster, and two feather pillows. |
| 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. I. 915 *French-bit (Carpentry), a boring tool adapted to use on a lathe-head or by a bow. |
| 1879 O. N. Rood Chromatics x. 157 This same tendency..reached a maximum in *French-blue. 1964 Lancet 29 Aug. 452/1 ‘French blues’ (the name for a non-proprietary mixture of amphetamine and a barbiturate). 1967 Daily Tel. 21 Feb. 15/7 A schoolgirl of 14 said at Birmingham yesterday that she took 10 ‘French blue’ pep pills she had bought outside the Midnight City dance club in the town. 1968 ‘J. Welcome’ Hell is where you find It xiv. 166 Some say French blues kill the itch to drink. With me they didn't. |
| 1879 Rossiter Dict. Sci. Terms, *French boiler, Elephant boiler: one large and two smaller cylinders connected by transverse pipes. |
| 1846 C. Holtzapffel Turning II. xxv. 561 The *French brace..is also constructed in iron, with a pair of equal bevil pinions. 1947 Gloss. Techn. Theatr. Terms (Strand Electr. Co.) 5 French brace, a tall wooden right-angled triangular frame, hinged to the back of a flat or other piece. 1948 H. Melvill Designing & Painting Scenery ii. 18 The brace (called in this instance a ‘French brace’) can swing out into position, or go flat against the groundrow when not in use. 1967 Oxf. Compan. Theatre 912/2 A variant [of the stage brace], composed of a right-angled triangle of wood hinged to the flat, opened out and weighted, is known as a French Brace. 1969 E. H. Pinto Treen 380 The more complex French brace or breast drill, came into the English wood-worker's toolchest just before 1900, but it was illustrated in Bergeron more than 100 years earlier. |
| 1686 Manch. Crt. Leet Rec. (1888) VI. 246 Short rated *ffrench bread. 1836 Act 6 & 7 Will. IV, c. 37 §4 Bread usually sold under the Denomination of French or Fancy Bread or Rolls. |
| 1686 R. Blome Gentl. Recreat. ii. 11 Rub him [Horse] all over with the *French Brush, beginning at his forehead. |
| 1842–59 Gwilt Archit. Gloss., *French casements, windows turning upon two vertical edges attached to the jambs. |
| a 1728 Woodward Catal. For. Fossils i. 3 Red *French chalk. 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework, French Chalk, a variety of indurated Talc. |
| 1933 P. Godfrey Back-Stage xiii. 167 The floor of the stage, which was *French-chalked for dancing to the gramophone. 1963 J. Osborne Dental Mechanics (ed. 5) iv. 61 The waxed-up model is French-chalked. |
| 1841 Fraser's Mag. XXIV. 717/2 On the mantelpiece, huge *French clocks. 1864 J. S. Le Fanu Uncle Silas I. xxiv. 290 There was a little French clock over the mantlepiece in the school-room. 1964 I. Oellrichs Death in Chilly Corner iv. 30 The little old French clock buzzed three times to indicate three o'clock. 1964 J. Symons End of Solomon Grundy ii. i. 69 She..went to look at the French clock in the sitting-room. 1967 W. Edey French Clocks 9 It is in this capacity, as a decorative art rather than as a work of science, that French clocks excel. |
| 1926 E. Bowen Ann Lee's 221 They went back to the garden and played *French-cricket there with a tennis-ball. [1935 Encycl. Sports 296/2 French cricket, game played with a cricket bat and ball in a confined space. It is played by any number, without sides, and there is no scoring. Each batsman plays until he is out, and is then succeded by the next.] 1959 I. & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolch. viii. 137 An informal game of cricket, such as French cricket or Stump cricket. |
| 1885 Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price List 720 *French Curves, Pear wood, assorted patterns. 1969 R. Mayer Dict. Art Terms & Techniques 154 French curves..are also called irregular curves and drawing curves. 1971 D. Clark Sick to Death i. 18 An artist's drawing-board... A long T-square..a straight edge with a metal ribbon on one side; a french-curve template. |
| 1889 Freeborough & Ranken Chess Openings v. 239 The *French Defence dates from Lucena (1497). 1895 J. Mason Art of Chess 292 The French Defence is often adopted in anticipation of the eternal Lopez, and may be considered one of the best methods of eluding that wearisome game. 1964 Listener 1 Oct. 531/2 Peter Lee..specializes in the French Defence. In this game..superior opening knowledge gave him a quick win. 1965 H. Evans et al. Korn's Mod. Chess Openings (ed. 10) 145 The French derives its name from a correspondence game between London and Paris in 1834, even though Lucena had examined it in 1497. 1971 Oxford Mail 27 Oct. 16/8 Fischer..opened..with his favourite move and Petrosian went into a French defence. |
| 1923 Southern Calif. Hardwood Manuf. Co. Catal. Feb. 97 *French Doors while intended primarily for outside use—porches, sun rooms etc., are now used to good advantage for inter-room use where lighting or heating is a reason for separating two rooms. 1926 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 18 July 11/5 (Advt.), Thrown wide between two small rooms, French doors allow you the often convenient space of a large room. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Feb. 30/1 (Advt.), Living room with..French doors to screened veranda. |
| 1776 G. Semple Building in Water 34 Coarse Rubbish and Stones, which were just like a *French Drain under our Dike. 1884 Century Mag. XXIX. 47/1 ‘Box drains’, ‘French drains’, ‘blind drains’. |
| 1900 Ladies' Home Jrnl. June 40/3 *French Dressing is a mixture of oil and vinegar in the proportions of six tablespoonfuls of oil to two of vinegar. 1923 H. Crane Let. 5 Dec. (1965) 159, I made some fine lettuce salad with onions and peppers and French dressing. 1945 La Junta (Colo.) Tribune-Democrat 15 Feb 2/6 French Fried Onions Chef's Salad with French Dressing. 1962 Woman's Own 17 Mar. 14/3 Tossed green salad with French dressing. |
| 1634 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 699 The *French Eves to keepe the water from the building. |
| 1943 A. Koestler in Yogi & Commissar (1945) 21 The managerial class on Parnassus..have lately been affected by a new outbreak of that recurrent epidemic, the *French 'Flu. 1959 Guardian 11 Dec. 6/6 Arthur Koestler once diagnosed French 'flu as an unreasoned admiration for everything Gallic. 1966 J. Fowles Magus xv. 83 ‘Voila.’ ‘Very nice.’ I determined to stamp out the French 'flu before it spread. |
| 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. I. 915 *French-flyers..stairs that fly forwards until they reach within a length of a stair from the wall, where a quarter space occurs; the steps next ascend at a right angle, when another quarter space occurs; they then ascend in an opposite flight, parallel to the first direction. |
| 1894 ‘O. Henry’ Rolling Stones (1916) 150 Our countries are great friends. We have given you Lafayette and *French fried potatoes. 1913 F. H. Burnett T. Tembarom xxii. 287 Beefsteak and French fried potatoes were the favourites. 1944 This Week Mag. 18 Mar. 12/2 Sirloin steak I get them, with French frieds and mushrooms. 1956 ‘A. Gilbert’ Riddle of Lady ix. 130 An excellent steak..and what the Nell Gwynn called French fried potatoes and Crook called chips. 1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana v. iii. 213 Roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sausages and carrots and French fried. |
| 1918 in F. A. Pottle Stretchers (1930) 289 After looking around a while we found the Cafe Riche and had a fine steak with *French fries. 1951 C. Armstrong Black-Eyed Stranger (1952) ii. 10 Bring me two lamb chops, French fries, cup of coffee. |
| 1862 Dict. Arch. (Arch. Publ. Soc.), *French grey, a tint composed of white with ivory black, Indian red and Chinese blue. 1882 Garden 25 Mar. 202/3 The flowers are pale blue, or French grey in colour. |
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework, *French Hem, a description of Hem employed for the finishing of Flounces. |
| c 1885, 1899 *French knot [see knot n.1 1 b]. 1960 G. Lewis Handbk. Crafts 29 Bumpy stitches like French knots which require great care in pressing to prevent them being flattened are better not used. 1964 McCall's Sewing ii. 29/1 French knot, decorative hand⁓stitch in which the thread is twisted around the needle and brought down through the fabric at almost the same spot to form a small dot. |
| c 1856 Paul Pry in C. Pearl Girl with Swansdown Seat (1955) vi. 256 *French letters..prevent the spread of venereal contagion in casual intercourse between the sexes, and in the marriage state, the increase of the family. c 1857 Amours, Intrigues, & Adv. Musical Student 144 (Advt.), How many industrious men have been crushed by poverty..through ignorance of the existence of French Letters. 1886 R. F. Burton Arab. Nts. X. 239 Of the penis succedaneus..every kind abounds, varying from a stuffed ‘French letter’ to a cone of ribbed horn. c 1888–94 My Secret Life III. 324 What Jenny's sister paid for French letters I dont know, I used to pay nine pence each. 1960 B. Askwith Tangled Web 162, I daresay he would have liked to give me a baby—but he always used a French letter. 1960 M. Spark Bachelors x. 181 They fumble about with their french letters or they tear open their horrible little packets of contraceptives like kids with sweets. 1968 J. R. Ackerley My Father & Myself vi. 49 My elder brother Peter was the accident. ‘Your father happened to have run out of french letters that day.’ |
| 1704 Lond. Gaz. No. 4067/8 A *French Lock on her off Foot before. |
| 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair lv. 491 She went up stairs and dressed herself this time without the aid of her *French maid. 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. xviii. 178, I was conscious of being distressed even by the observation of the French maid. 1899 Wilde Importance of being Earnest iii. 132 A thoroughly experienced French maid produces a really marvellous result in a very brief space of time. 1905 F. H. Burnett Little Princess ii. 17 One or two of them had even caught a glimpse of her French maid, Mariette, who had arrived the evening before. 1912 A. M. N. Lyons Clara viii. 73 I'm only a little dis'eartened because the motor's broken down and my French maid forgot to air the curling-tongs. 1960 B. Keaton Wonderf. World of Slapstick (1967) 55 This little lady carried thirty-six pieces of luggage..and an entourage consisting of a pianist, a chauffeur, a footman, and two French maids. |
| 1556 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 564 The backe..vnderneth the turned pilleres of the stalles to be *frenche pannell. |
| 1884 Chamb. Jrnl. 15 Nov. 731/2 ‘*French paste’ which imitates the diamond so well, is a kind of glass into which a certain quantity of oxide of lead is introduced. |
| 1873 Weale's Dict. Archit. (ed. 3), *French purple, a beautiful dye prepared from lichens. |
| 1844 Hoblyn Dict. Med., *French red or rouge, genuine carmine. |
| 1791 J. Woodforde Diary 14 July (1927) III. 285, I hope this Day will be attended with no bad Consequences, this being the Day that the *French Revolution first took Place there last Year. 1819 Keats Let. 18 Sept. (1958) II. 193, I mean that the french Revolution put a temporry stop to this third change, the change for the better. 1907 G. B. Shaw John Bull's Other Island p. xxxii, The French revolution would have been a revolution against England and English rule instead of against aristocracy and ecclesiasticism. 1970 R. C. Cobb Police & People p. xiv, The approach has been throughout to replace the question commonly asked: ‘Why did the popular movement fail in the course of the French Revolution?’.. by the question ‘How did a popular movement in its own right emerge at all?’: for this is perhaps the most astonishing fact about the history of the French Revolution. |
| 1669 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 557 The roofe..shalbe a sufficient strong *French roofe to be made after the best manner hipt of[f]. 1883 Howells Woman's Reason II. xvii. 118 The row of French-roof cottages. |
| 1703 Lond. Gaz. No. 3928/4 A bay Nag..all his Paces, and had lately a *French Rowel in the inside of the near Leg behind above the Hock. |
| 1670 Narborough Jrnl. in Acc. Sev. Late Voy i. (1711) 45 Good white Stone-Salt, whiter than *French-salt. |
| 1923 H. A. Maddox Dict. Stationery 31 *French sewing, a method of sewing small books and pamphlet work without tapes, the cover usually being drawn on. 1963 Kenneison & Spilman Dict. Printing 75 French sewing, in binding, the method of machine-sewing without tapes, or in hand-sewing, the method of sewing a book without the use of a sewing frame, the sections of the book being sewn at the edge of the bench. |
| 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., *French shroud-knot, the shroud-knot with three strands single walled round the bights of the other three and the standing part. |
| 1841 Hamilton Dict. Mus. Terms App., *French sixth, the name of a chord composed of a major third, extreme fourth and extreme sixth. |
| 1660 R. May Accomplisht Cook vi. 162 *French Toasts. Cut French Bread, and toast it in pretty thick toasts on a clean gridiron, and serve them steeped in claret, sack, or any wine, with sugar and juyce of orange. 1882 F. E. Owens Cook Bk. 128 French toast. Make a batter of two eggs, one-half cup of milk, pinch of salt, and tea⁓spoon of cornstarch. Dip thin slices of bread in and fry brown in a well-buttered frying pan. 1892 T. F. Garrett Encycl. Pract. Cookery I. 192/1 French Toast. Beat up one egg in a basin with a little salt and 1 teaspoonful of milk, and in this dip some thin slices of Bread..; then plunge the Bread into a frying-pan of boiling fat, and fry to a light brown. Take them out, drain them... Spreading over them with stewed rhubarb, or other fruit in season, is a great improvement. 1924 Western Daily Press (Bristol) 20 Mar. 9/5 A piece of bread and butter toasted on the dry side is said to be French toast. |
| 1873 Weale's Dict. Archit. (ed. 3), *French tub, a mixture used by dyers, of the protochloride of tin and logwood. |
| 1876 Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms, Flat tuning, one of the varieties of tuning on the lute; called also *French tuning or French flat tuning. |
| 1844 Hoblyn Dict. Med., *French white, the common designation of finely pulverized talc. |
| 1801 Trans. Soc. Arts XIX. 291 *French windows and glass doors. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis vi, The Doctor stept out of the French windows of the dining-room into the lawn. |
b. of articles of dress, stuffs, etc., as
French heel,
French pocket,
French sleeve,
French velvet, etc.;
French cuff, a double cuff formed by turning back a long cuff band and fastening it with buttons or links;
French pleat, (
a) a type of pleat at the top of a curtain (see
quot. 1964
1); (
b)
= French roll;
French roll, a woman's hairstyle, in which the hair is tucked into a vertical roll down the back of the head;
French seam (see
quot. 1968);
French tack (see
quot. 1964);
French twist,
= French roll.
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Neetlework, French canvas..a description of Grenadine, of a stout wiry character. |
| 1916 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 22 July 12/5 (Advt.), Each Shirt is finished with French cuffs and separate soft collar. 1964 McCall's Sewing xi. 171/1 Apply the French cuff to the lower edge of sleeve. 1967 ‘L. Egan’ Nameless Ones xv. 187 A fancy sports shirt with French cuffs and gold cuff links. |
| a 1706 in J. Watson's Collect. i. 30 French-gows cut out and double banded. |
| 1784 Cowper Task iv. 546 Her tott'ring form Ill propp'd upon French heels. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 353 With her high crooked French heels on her. 1928 M. de la Roche Whiteoaks (1929) xii. 157 Four girls approached abreast, wearing French heels and flesh-coloured stockings. |
| 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie ii. vii. 203 Seest thou yon gallant in the sumptuous clothes..Note his French-herring bones: but note no more. |
| 1812 J. Smyth Pract. of Customs (1821) 127 Cambricks and Lawns, commonly called French Lawns. |
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Neetlework, French Merino..is manufactured of very superior wool from the Merino sheep. |
| 1948 Derieux & Stevenson Compl. Bk. Interior Decorating 147 To simplify making of French pleats two products are available. 1964 McCall's Sewing xvi. 284/1 French pleats. Divide fullness of pleat fold into three equal, smaller folds. At the bottom of the heading, sew by hand through the three pleats on the right side of the fabric. Pull thread up tight and fasten securely. Top edge of heading is not pressed into pleats. 1964 G. Lyall Most Dangerous Game ix. 64 She had..silky fair hair pulled back and coiled in a French pleat. 1966 P. Carlon Running Woman viii. 69 Long hair could be worn in a French pleat, a chignon, at times. 1968 R. W. Semmens in F. H. Radford Art & Craft Hairdressing (ed. 5) I. vii. 116/2 French Rolls and Pleats. This is a popular hair style suitable for longer hair. |
| 1675 Lond. Gaz. No. 979/4 A strait bodied Coat, with French Pockets. |
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Neetlework, French Point, a name by which Alen{cced}on lace is sometimes called. |
| 1941 F. E. Wall Princ. & Pract. Beauty Culture 423 French Roll. This coiffure is particularly becoming to the small woman who wishes to appear taller, but it is equally suitable to a taller woman with a thin face. 1962 in R. Corson Fashions in Hair (1965) xii. 630 The bouffant, a hairdo filched from eighteenth-century France, whose tortured variations—mushroom flip, French twist, chemise, French roll..—began sprouting a few years back. 1965 J. Caird Murder Reflected ii. 19 She had hair of true wheat-gold, worn up in a French roll. 1968 J. Ironside Fashion Alphabet 192 With the advent of the ‘bouffant’ hair-do, the French roll was an easy adaptation, the teased hair being brushed up from the neck and made into a thick roll down the back of the head, thicker at the top. |
| c 1890 tr. T. deDillmont's Encycl. Needlework 8 For joining such stuffs as fray, use the so-called French seam. 1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. 37/1 Ladies' Shirt Waists..all felled French seams. 1956 And so to Sew 118/2 Do not use french seams where perfect fitting is necessary or where a flat finish is required. 1967 Guardian 23 May 6/5 Bogged down among the plackets and French seams of school dressmaking. 1968 J. Ironside Fashion Alphabet 99 French seam, a seam made by sewing the two fabrics together on the right side; then turning and sewing on the wrong side, enclosing the raw edges. |
| 1592 Greene Def. Conny Catch. Wks. (Grosart) XI. 96 Blest be the French sleeues and breech verdingales. |
| 1934 Vogue's Guide Smart Dressmaking 39 The lining is finished separately from the coat at lower edge, with French tacks at the seams. 1960 Vogue Pattern Bk. Early Autumn 57 Catch the seams together near the hemline with loose French tacks. 1964 McCall's Sewing ii. 29/1 French tack, a thread bar fastening used to hold two pieces of a garment together loosely. Used to attach lining to coat at hemline. |
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Neetlework, French Twill, although called French this is an English-made dress material—a variety of French Merino. |
| 1877 E. Creer Lessons in Hairdressing iii. 48 That [coiffure] which is called a ‘French twist’ has two different forms and uses. According to some authorities it is made with the back hair, and fixed by means of a comb at the crown of the head... Another ‘French twist’..is also known by the names of ‘Torsade Dondel’, ‘Torsade Repoussée’, ‘Torsade Gouffrée’. It is made with a long, thin strand of hair, and is hollow when completed. 1892 I. Mallon in R. Corson Fashions in Hair (1965) xii. 494 Women who wear their hair very plainly part it in the back and turn it over like a French twist, drawing it up to the top of the head. 1962 J. Fleming When I grow Rich viii. 102 She..did her hair up into a French twist at the back. 1966 J. S. Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing 61/1 French twist,..the same as French Roll. |
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. i. ii. 35, I had as liefe be a Lyst of an English Kersey, as be pil'd..for a French Veluet. |
4. In the names of various animals:
French bulldog, a smaller variety of the English bulldog;
French fly = cantharides;
French gurnard,
ray,
sardine,
sole: see
quots.| 1894 R. B. Lee Mod. Dogs ix. 215, I am surprised that there are show committees who will provide classes for these *French bulldogs to be called ‘toys’, going up to 23 lb. in weight. 1922 R. Leighton Complete Bk. of Dog xx. 308 It was from the English variety of pygmy Bulldogs that the now fashionable French Bulldog was evolved. 1952 E. F. Davies Illyrian Venture iv. 73 Our shopping expedition produced a French bulldog. |
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 330 The Cantharides or *French greene Flies. 1741 Compl. Fam.-Piece i. i. 15 Take French Flies..and a few Drops of Vinegar. |
| 1879 Rossiter Dict. Sci. Terms, *French gurnard, Trigla lineata. |
| 1776 Pennant Brit. Zool. III. 77, I met with this species [Raia fullonica] at Scarborough, where it is called the *French Ray. |
| 1879 Rossiter Dict. Sci. Terms, *French sardine = Young pilchard. |
| Ibid., *French sole, Solea pegusa. |
5. a. In names of various trees and plants; as
† French apple, some flowering plant;
French-bean (see
bean n. 3);
French berry = Avignon berry;
† French broom,
Spartium monospermum;
French cowslip (see
quot. and
cowslip 2);
French furze,
Ulex europæus;
French grass,
Onobrychis sativa;
French heath,
Erica hibernica;
French honey-suckle,
Hedysarum coronarium;
French lavender,
Lavandula Stœchas;
French leek,
Allium Porrum;
French lungwort,
Hieracium murorum;
French mallow, a species of
Malva?;
French marigold,
Tagetes patula and other species;
French mercury,
Mercurialis annua;
French nut, the fruit of
Juglans regia = walnut;
French oak, (
a) a variety of
Ilex, (
b) (see
quot. 1829);
† French onion,
Scilla maritima;
French pink U.S., the cornflower,
Centaurea cyanus, or a species of
Armeria;
French rose, the common red rose,
esp. as used in the pharmacopœia;
French sage, a variety of mullein;
French sorrel,
Oxalis Acetosella (see also
quot. 1829);
French turnip = navew (
Brassica Napus);
French walnut = Common walnut (
walnut1 2 b);
French wheat = buckwheat 1;
French willow, (
a)
Epilobium angustifolium, (
b)
Salix triandra.
| 1741 Compl. Fam. Piece ii. iii. 378 Several annual Flowers, as the *French Apple, Convolvulus..and others. |
| 1552 Huloet, Beanes called *Frenche beanes, eruilia. 1719 D'Urfey Pills (1872) I. 33 The one thin and lean As a garden French bean. 1861 Delamer Kitch. Gard. 88 French beans may be divided into two classes: the Runners..and the Dwarfs. |
| 1727–51 *French Berry [see Avignon berry]. 1866 Treas. Bot., French Berries, the fruits of Rhamnus infectorius, saxatilis, amygdalinus, &c. |
| 1548 Turner Names of Herbes 76 Spartium or spartum..is a bushe called of some gardiners *french broume. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. cclxxv. 663 Pulmonaria Gallorum, *French Cowslips of Jerusalem. |
| 1602 Carew Cornwall 21 Great store of furze of which the shrubby sort is called tame, the better growne *French. |
| 1863 Prior Plant-n. 87 *French grass, sainfoin. |
| 1871 Jrnl. Bot. IX. 52 The beautiful Erica hibernica..locally known as *French Heath, is found..to make capital brooms. |
| 1629 Parkinson Paradisi in Sole (1656) 340 The red Sattin flower, although some foolishly call it, the red or *French Honysuckle. |
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. lxxxvii. 266 It is called in English..*French Lavender. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. clxx. §1. 469 French lauander. |
| 1548 Turner Names of Herbes 65 The one is called..in englishe a *frenche Leke. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal Table Eng. Names, *French Lungwort. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) III. 687 French Lungwort. Golden Lungwort, or Hawk⁓weed. |
| 1548 Turner Names of Herbes 50 The other kynde..is called in englishe *french Mallowe. 1620 Venner Via Recta vii. 144 The curled Mallow, called of the vulgar sort, French Mallowes. |
| 1548 Turner Names of Herbes 80 Viola flammea otherwyse called..in englishe veluet floure or *french Marigoulde. 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. xxv. 176 We do call this floure Turkie Gillofers, and French Marygoldes. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. xlvii. 262 It [Mercurialis] is called..in English *French Mercurie. |
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. cviii. (1495) 671 The more nottes be *frenshe nottes and the lasse ben Auelanes. 1578 Lyte Dodoens vi. lvi. 731 The fruit is called..in Englishe Walnuttes..and of some Frenche Nuttes. 1796 W. Marshall W. England I. 326 French nuts, walnuts. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal iii. xxi. 1161 This Oke [Ilex] is named..in English Barren scarlet Oke, or Holme Oke, and also of some *French Oke. 1829 Loudon Encycl. Plants 26 Catalpa longissima is..known in the West Indies by the name of French oak. |
| 1548 Turner Names of Herbes 71 Scilla is named..in english a sea Onion, and in some places, a *french Onyon. |
| 1863 S. K. Holmes Jrnl. 12 July (1955) 226 The prairie is a mass of moving purple plumes, ‘*French Pinks’, the natives [sc. Texans] call them. 1896 S. O. Jewett Country of Pointed Firs xv. 132 There was little trace of her flower-garden except a single faded sprig of much-enduring French pinks. 1914 L. H. Bailey Stand. Cycl. Hort. II. 711/2 Centaurea..cyanus..Bluebottle. Bluet. Bachelor's Button..Cornflower. Ragged Sailor. French Pink. |
| 1552 Huloet, *French roses, trachinia. 1853 Pereira's Mat. Med. 1807 Rosa Gallica, French or Red Rose..The dried petals of the unexpanded flowers..constitute the red-rose leaves of the shops. 1882 Cassell, The petals of the French or Red Rose are astringent and contain a red colouring matter, which is turned green by alkalis. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. ccliii. 625 Verbascum Mathioli, *French Sage. 1861 Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. IV. 140 Woody Mullein or French Sage. |
| 1829 Loudon Encycl. Plants 1081 The young leaves and shoots of several species of Rumex and Rheum are eaten..under the name of..*French sorrel. 1863–79 Prior Plant-n. 86 French Sorrel, the wood sorrel, Oxalis acetosella. |
| 1832 Veg. Subst. Food 232 The root of the *French turnip, or naveu, differs from the other varieties. |
| 1841 Southern Lit. Messenger VII. 221/1 [I] rode into the yard; found large old *French walnut there. 1966 A. W. Lewis Gloss. Woodworking Terms 107 French Walnut. |
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal i. lx. 83 In English *French wheate..and Bucke wheate. 1658 Sir T. T. de Mayerne Receipts Cookery xxxi. 31 Take..a pint of French wheat flower. 1776 Withering Brit. Plants I. 237 Snakeweed..Buckwheat..Frenchwheat. |
| 1838 Loudon Arboretum III. 1499 Salix triandra..The *French willow.. cultivated in Sussex and the east parts of England. 1863 Prior Plant-n. 87 French Willow from its leaves somewhat resembling those of the willow, Epilobium angustifolium L. |
b. † French pippin,
warden, varieties respectively of apple and pear;
French plum, the fruit of a variety of
Prunus domestica, dried and exported from France.
| 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 191 Golden Pippin, French Pippin, Kirton Pippin. |
| Ibid. 226 The..Squib-Pear, Spindle-Pear..and French Wardens. |
| 1838 Loudon Arboretum II. 689 The prune d'Ast..is chiefly used for preparing what are called in England, *French plums. |
6. In various names given to venereal diseases.
| 1503 Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830) 105 A Surgeon whiche heled him of the Frenche pox. 1592 Greene Disput. Wks. (Grosart) X. 233 There you shall see men diseased of the French Marbles. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. i. Eden 621 His burned stalks, with strong fumosities Of piercing vapours, purge the French disease. 1607 Tourneur Rev. Trag. i. i. Wks. 1878 II. 10 Like the French Moale. 1612 Chapman Widowes T. in Dodsley O. Pl. (1780) VI. 229 They shall be burnt..to salve for the french-measles. 1614 J. Cooke Tu Quoque ibid. VII. 177 May the french cannibal eat into thy flesh And pick thy bones. 1664 Butler Hud. ii. ii. 456 As no man of his own self catches The Itch, or amorous French aches. 1678 Ibid. iii. i. 716 Tis hard to say..who imported the French Goods. 1688 S. Penton Guardian's Instruct. 29 The easie Cure of the French Complement. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, French Gout, the Pox. 1740 Hist. Jamaica 207 If any Servant..happen to have the French-pox. 1760–72 tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) II. 11 It is particularly famous for the cure of the French disease. |
7. Comb. (chiefly prefixed to
ppl. adjs., or objective), as
French-bred,
French-built,
French-heeled,
French-loving,
French-speaking adjs.;
French-wise adv. Also,
esp. in the sense ‘French and ―’,
French-American,
French-British,
French-Creole,
French-provincial,
French-Spanish,
French-Swiss.
† French-sick a., affected with syphilis (
cf. 6), also used
punningly. See also
French Canadian n. and a.
| 1915 W. Owen Let. 1 Aug. (1967) 350 The fellow is a Radio-Telegraphist on a *French-American Liner. 1934 Dylan Thomas Let. 16 Mar. (1966) 96 The French-American Transitionists. |
| 1684 Otway Atheist iii. i, This Man of War, this *French-bred Hero. |
| 1612 W. Strachey Trav. Virginia (1953) i. x. 121, I haue drunck often of the rath wyne, which..people haue made full as good as your *French-Brittish wyne. |
| 1798 Nelson 28 Sept. in Nicolas Desp. (1845) III. 135 The only remaining *French-built Ship of the Line. |
| 1868 G. Rose Great Country 195 The *French Creole ladies. 1956 M. Stearns Story of Jazz (1957) v. 54 The slaves are apparently singing a French-Creole tune in the French-Creole patois. |
| 1915 J. London Let. 18 Sept. (1966) 460, I should like to see you in your *French heeled slippers. |
| 1884 Sat. Rev. 7 June 731/1 The good *French-loving servants of her English Majesty. |
| 1951 R. Chandler Let. 5 Feb. (1962) i. 28, I live in a *French Provincial chateau on Mulholland Drive. 1956 ‘E. S. Aarons’ Assignment Treason (1967) x. 78 There was French provincial furniture, softly glowing with centuries of hand polishing. 1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 25 Sept. 34/1 (Advt.), Lovely 4-bedroom French provincial home with bath, den, family room, [etc.]. |
| 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. iii. Furies 776 Who bear upon their *French-sick backs [dessus leurs corps du mal Fran{cced}ois rongez]..Farms, Castles, Fees. 1772 T. Nugent tr. Hist. Friar Gerund II. 182 Which have made our..idiom so very French-sick..that [etc.]. |
| 1934 Wyndham Lewis Let. 3 July (1963) 219 The *french-spanish border. |
| 1865 Kingsley Herew. Prel., *French-speaking knights. |
| 1921 H. Crane Let. 16 May (1965) 56 There is a *French-Swiss artist here. |
| 1573 Baret Alv. F. 1058 Like a frenchman, or *french wise, Gallicé. |
B. absol. and n. 1. a. The French language, or a specified variety of it.
pedlar's French: cant, thieves' slang.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7542 Vor bote a man coone frenss, me telþ of him lute. c 1320 Cast. Love 25 Ne mowe we alle Latin wite..Ne French. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 429 Þe worþy reume of fraunse..haþ translatid þe bible..out of lateyn in-to freynsch. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 126 For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe. c 1483 Caxton Vocab. 2 Frenssh and englissh. 1530 Palsgr. 223/1 Frenche spoken in Burgondy, wallon. 1533 More Debell. Salem Wks. 964/1, I..would also be bold in suche frenche as is peculiare to the lawes of this realm, to leaue it with them in wryting too. 1567 Harman Caveat 24 Pedlers French or Canting. 1642 Howell For. Trav. (Arb.) 58 Yet since the last Conquest much French hath got in. 1724 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 12, I could speak but little French. 1888 F. Hume Mad. Midas i. Prol., ‘So’, he said rapidly in French, ‘we are in the land of promise’. |
b. Used euphemistically for ‘bad language’,
esp. in the
phr. excuse (or pardon) my French!| 1895 [see durned]. 1909 J. R. Ware Passing Eng. 171/1 Loosing French, violent language in English. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 446 Bad French I got for my pains. 1936 M. Harrison All Trees were Green ii. 104 A bloody sight better (pardon the French!) than most. 1940 S.P.E. Tract iv. 181 Excuse my French! (forgive me my strong language). 1955 M. McCarthy Charmed Life (1956) ii. 52 ‘Damn fool,’ he said, vehemently, ‘pardon my French.’ 1961 J. O'Donovan Middle Tree ii. 12 A kick in the arse, smartly administered... Excuse my French! 1966 A. La Bern Goodbye Piccadilly xxv. 220 Well I'll be buggered. Excuse my French. |
2. a. the French (
pl.): the French people. Also (rarely) without article
= French persons.
† Formerly with inflexion as
n.,
pl. Frenches.
| 1595 Shakes. John iii. iv. 173 If but a dozen French Were there in Armes, they [etc.]. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. xlviii, Such is the nature and complexion of the frenches that they are worth nothing, but at the first push. 1664 Pepys Diary 11 Oct., Captain Titus told us the particulars of the French's expedition against Gigery upon the Barbary coast. 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) IV. 434 Germany bravely defended against the French and Bavarians. 1861 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 32 Our island has indeed been conquered by Italians, and conquered by French. |
b. French and English: a children's game.
| 1823 Moor Suffolk Words 238 English and French—French and English (different games)—Frog in the middle [etc.]. 1858 H. Miller Sch. & Schm. (1858) 76 They could play at ‘shinty’ and ‘French and English’, almost within hail of their parents' homesteads. |
3. Dry vermouth. Usu. in
phr. gin and French.
| 1938 M. Allingham Fashion in Shrouds xxii. 420 There's some gin and French and a little Advocaat..in the cupboard. 1949 A. Wilson Wrong Set 208 ‘How about that gin..?’ he asked. ‘It's in the shaker,..with some French.’ 1967 M. Gilbert Dust & Heat 14 He was drinking double gins with single Frenches in them. |
4. Fellatio.
slang.| 1958 Murtagh & Harris Cast First Stone (Gloss.), French, Frenchy, fellatio. 1968 B. Turner Sex Trap vii. 52 You're not queer, are you?.. I just thought you might want a spot of French if you were. Ibid. viii. 64 You can be whipped or caned..or you can have French for another pound. 1969 T. Parker Twisting Lane 203 There's two things I won't let her do though, that's French and sadism. |
Add:
[A.] [3.] [a.] French loaf = French bread;
spec. = French stick s.v. stick n.1 8 e.
| 1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery ii. 36 Some little *French Loaves, about the bigness of an Egg. 1966 T. Frisby There's Girl in my Soup iii. 47 In them are brandy, cigarettes,..a long French loaf,..and towel. 1982 S. Townsend Secret Diary A. Mole 64, I cooked the soup and cut the French loaf. |
French tickler colloq., a condom of which the tip incorporates several small protrusions, designed to stimulate the vagina during sexual intercourse.
| 1967 N. Mailer Why are We in Vietnam? I. 18 Don't come near unless you can steer your prick like a whip and *French Tickler all in one. 1976 Leicester Trader 24 Nov. 22/2 (Advt.), 6 French ticklers..{pstlg}1.80. 1988 M. Bishop Unicorn Mountain (1989) iii. 31, I was trying to buy one of those French ticklers you've been promising to use, honey. |
[b.] French knickers pl., loose-fitting and
usu. lace-trimmed ladies' knickers or underpants with a short, full leg,
freq. made in silky or satin-finish material; also
occas. in
sing.| 1926 Home Chat 22 May 507 *French Knicker made in Grafton's Voile and Grafton's Chiffonelle. Trimmed with lace. Elastic waistband. 1936 W. B. M. Ferguson Somewhere off Borneo iv. 26 She wore nothing but a ‘bras’, the briefest of French knickers, and the sheerest of white silk hose. 1990 Fashion Forecast Internat. Sept. 117 (caption) Facing page inset: embroidered cotton camisole and French knickers. |
▸
French manicure n. a style of manicure in which the fingernails are painted light beige or pale pink, with a white band at the tip;
cf. French tip n. at Additions.
| 1981 Daily Herald (Chicago) 20 Oct. ii. 3 (advt.) ‘Pamper yourself’ special... *French Manicure..eyebrow arching [etc.]. 2006 A. Davies Goodbye Lemon ii. 126 My mother examines the chitin of her bevel-perfect French manicure. |
▸
French mustard n. any of various types of mustard made in France,
esp. (in later use) a mild variety using brown and black varieties of seed.
| 1595 A. Copley Wits Fittes & Fancies iv. 129 At last return'd home again, he came that very same day twelue-moneth to his maister, and deliuer'd him the foresaid pot-full of Mustard, saying: Hold here (Maister) your messe of *French Mustard. 1599 Househ. Bks. James VI 23 Sept. (Transcr. MS Reg. H), Fyue vnce dredgie and Frensche mustart. 1791 Times 26 Dec. 1/3 (advt.) From France, Sweatmeats, wet and dry; French vinegars, French mustard, French soup strainers. 1851 London at Table i. 18 The accessories being salad, beetroot, vegetables, French and English mustard. 1956 C. Spry & R. Hume Constance Spry Cookery Bk. (1958) 19 Add 1½ tablespoons French mustard to 4 oz. softened butter, work together, and keep in a cool place. 2000 Canberra Sunday Times 11 June 58/4 Add a good pinch of salt, ground pepper, a pinch of English mustard powder or a little French mustard, and a teensy bit of sugar. |
▸
French plait n. now chiefly
Brit.,
Austral., and
N.Z. = French braid n. 2.
| 1871 Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daily Sentinel 22 Dec. 2/2 Her hair was arranged in the latest style of *French plaits. 1987 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) (Nexis) 1 July The French plait has replaced the free-swinging pony tail. 1989 Best 14 Apr. 28/1 A French plait isn't as complicated as it looks. 1999 Daily News (Taranaki, N.Z.) (Electronic ed.) 18 Sept. Just because we had to get the 14-year-old to the airport, the six-year-old decided this was the day she needed to try wearing her hair in a French plait to school. |
▸
French press n. (a) Bodybuilding an exercise designed to develop and strengthen the triceps, performed by lying face-up and lifting and lowering a barbell by straightening and bending the arms;
(b) = plunger n. 6.
| 1956 Muscle Power June 30/3 Exercise {hash}4... *French press with dumb-bell using 115 lbs for five reps and the usual eight sets. 1976 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 21 Nov. (Entertaining at Home Suppl.) 2/1 (advt.) French press coffeemaker is a unique French adaptation of the British method of brewing tea. 1996 Puget Sound Business Jrnl. (Nexis) 20 Sept. 4 ‘It's designed to act as a satellite point of distribution..with a full line of drinks..but limited merchandise’ such as latte mugs, French presses and espresso machines. 2005 Flex (Nexis) 1 Nov. 152 My favorite triceps exercise is the French press (a.k.a. triceps extensions). |
▸
French tip n. a white band painted across the end of a fingernail as part of a French manicure.
| 1985 N.Y. Times 6 Aug. b5 (advt.) Summer special. *French tips $15.00. 1990 Newsday (N.Y.) (Nexis) 28 Oct. 8 The reader is lured by promises of ‘linen tips’,..‘French tips’, ‘air brush art’ and ‘acrylic tips’. 2004 Evening Chron. (Newcastle) 28 Aug. (Life section) 1 Jessica got a full set of French tips and overlay applied by nail technician, Jagdeep. |
▪ II. French, v. rare.
(
frɛnʃ)
[f. prec. adj.] 1. to French it: to speak French.
nonce-use.
| 1639 Fuller Holy Warre (1647) iv. xvi. 196 The Turks could not French it so handsomely, but that they were discovered. |
2. trans. To teach (a person) French.
nonce-use.
| 1831 Examiner 814/1 Where she had been Frenched, danced, and taught to draw. 1861 [see deportmented]. |
3. To render into French or give a French form to.
| 1887 Sat. Rev. 24 Sept. 435 ‘I love you’ (quite correctly Frenched, ‘Je vous aime’). 1890 Pall Mall G. 5 Aug. 3/2 Monte Silvio..was Frenched into Mont Cervin. |
† 4. (See
Frenched ppl. a.)
Obs. 5. Cookery. (See
quot.) ?
U.S.| 1895 Standard Dict., French v. To prepare, as a chop, by partially cutting the meat from the shank and leaving bare the bone so as to fit it for convenient handling. |
6. Of tobacco, cotton, or other plants: to become diseased and distorted. (
Cf. Frenchman 4.)
| 1852 G. N. Jones Florida Plant. Rec. (1927) 67 My Corn Crop Looks better than it did Last year; this time it have Frenched a Little I see, in Places. 1888 Congress. Rec. 17 May 4069 Then [the cotton-plant] begins to blight, then comes frenching and the shedding of squares and formes. |
7. trans. and intr. To practice fellatio or cunnilingus (with).
slang.| 1958 in Partridge Dict. Underworld (1968) 821/1 French, v. 1965 W. Young Eros Denied xxvii. 271 In England..we call..cunt-licking Frenching. c 1965 in Partridge Dict. Slang Suppl. (1970) 1146 She thought he was asleep, and Frenched him. 1967 Wentworth & Flexner Dict. Amer. Slang 684 French, to commit fellatio or cunnilingus. |