French

Meanings

Proper Noun

• The language of France, shared by the neighboring countries Belgium, Monaco, and Switzerland and by former French colonies around the world.
• The ability of a person to communicate in French.
• French language and literature as an object of study.
• Vulgar language.

Noun

• The people of France; groups of French people.
• Synonym of oral sex, especially fellatio.
• , a type of dry vermouth.

Adjective

• Of or relating to France.
• Of or relating to the people or culture of France.
• Of or relating to the French language.
• Of or related to oral sex, especially fellatio.

Verb

• Alternate spelling of french

Related

Similar words

• Gallian, Gallic, Gaulish

Origin

• , Frensch, Frensc, Frenshe, Frenk, Franche, from Old English Frenċisċ ("Frankish"), from Franca + -isċ; more at Frank, -ish (compare Frankish). Cognate with Danish fransk ("French"), Swedish fransk, fransysk, Icelandic franska ("French").
• 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 cursewords 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.