Sample Chapters
Ethnic Origins
French Names
Cousin Alice's Press
Tales of Human Interest
Babette. A French form of the name Elizabeth.
Bijou. Jewel; gem.
Bistro. A small restaurant in France where wine is served.
Brie. A soft cheese from the Brie region of France.
Caviar. Black caviar, a delicacy is black or gray fish eggs from the sturgeon and red caviar is from the roe of the salmon.
Chablis. A greenish-golden wine from an area of the village of Chablis, in theBurgundy. Region of France.
Chalet. French word meaning “little castle.” These wooden houses are typically found in the region of the Alps.
Chamois. An animal in the goat family whose leather has been used to make chamois leather cloths.
Champagne. A sparkling white wine from a region in France that at one time was the province of Champagne.
Chanel. (1883-1971). French fashion designer whose real name is Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, known as “Coco”.
Chardonnay. A white grape used in the making of Chardonnay wine.
Charlemagne. (742-814). Charles the Great, Charles I, King of France (768-814), Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Cherie. A French word meaning “dearest or darling.”
Chiffon. A sheer, light fabric from the French “chiffe,” a rag or piece of cloth.
Dijon. A city in France known for its mustard and a liqueur called Cassis.
Fabergé. Carl Fabergé (1846-1920). His jeweled Easter eggs are his hallmark.
Frenchy. Bestowed as a nickname on someone of a French background.
Gigi. Shortened form of any of the feminine forms of George: Georgine, Georgette, Georgiana and Georgia.
Jacques. The French name for James.
Juliette. A form of the name Julia.
Loupgarou. Meaning “werewolf.” Loup means “wolf.”
Madame Bovary. (1857). The adulterous character and title of French author Gustave Flaubert’s (1821-1880) first published novel.
Mademoiselle. Miss, young lady.
Mardi Gras. French term meaning “Fat Tuesday” or “Shrove Tuesday,” the day before the beginning of Lent.
Merci. Mercy, discretion, thank you.
Monique. French name for Monica.
Monsieur. My lord, sir, gentleman.
Napoléon. Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821). Napoléon I, was a great military leader. Crowned himself Emperor of the French (1804).
Nouba. A group of Algerian or Moroccan regiments. A showy group; a noisy feast.
Pierre. French version of Peter.
Potpourri. A fragrant mixture of dried flower petals.
Rouge. Red.
Roulette. A casino game of chance played with a rotating wheel and a small plastic ball.
Shalimar. A perfume created in 1925 by Jacques Guerlain is composed of sandalwood, ambergris, musk and civet.
Soleil. Sun; sunshine.
Tartuffe. A hypocrite in the comedy of the same name by French playwright, Moliere (1622-1673).
Tutu. A ballerina’s short, bouffant skirt.
Voltaire. François Marie Arouet. (1694-1778). Voltaire’s intelligence, wit and style made him one of France’s greatest writers and philosophers.
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*Illustrations in book are in B&W
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