What is "french"

French \French\ (fr[e^]nch), prop. a. [AS. frencisc, LL. franciscus, from L. Francus a Frank: cf. OF. franceis, franchois, fran[,c]ois, F. fran[,c]ais. See Frank, a., and cf. Frankish.] Of or pertaining to France or its inhabitants. French bean (Bot.), the common kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris). French berry (Bot.), the berry of a species of buckthorn ( Rhamnus catharticus), which affords a saffron, green or purple pigment. French casement (Arch.) See French window, under Window. French chalk (Min.), a variety of granular talc; -- used for drawing lines on cloth, etc. See under Chalk. French cowslip (Bot.) The Primula Auricula. See Bear's-ear. French fake (Naut.), a mode of coiling a rope by running it backward and forward in parallel bends, so that it may run freely. French honeysuckle (Bot.) a plant of the genus Hedysarum ( H. coronarium); -- called also garland honeysuckle. French horn, a metallic wind instrument, consisting of a long tube twisted into circular folds and gradually expanding from the mouthpiece to the end at which the sound issues; -- called in France cor de chasse. French leave, an informal, hasty, or secret departure; esp., the leaving a place without paying one's debts. French pie [French (here used in sense of ``foreign'') + pie a magpie (in allusion to its black and white color)] (Zo["o]l.), the European great spotted woodpecker ( Dryobstes major); -- called also wood pie. French polish.

1. A preparation for the surface of woodwork, consisting of gums dissolved in alcohol, either shellac alone, or shellac with other gums added.

2. The glossy surface produced by the application of the above.

   French purple, a dyestuff obtained from lichens and used for coloring woolen and silken fabrics, without the aid of mordants.
   --Ure.

   French red rouge.

   French rice, amelcorn.

   French roof (Arch.), a modified form of mansard roof having a nearly flat deck for the upper slope.

   French tub, a dyer's mixture of protochloride of tin and logwood; -- called also plum tub.
   --Ure.

   French window. See under Window.

French \French\, prop. n.

1. The language spoken in France.

2. Collectively, the people of France.

Sole \Sole\, n. [F. sole, L. solea; -- so named from its flat shape. See Sole of the foot.] (Zo["o]l.)

1. Any one of several species of flatfishes of the genus Solea and allied genera of the family Soleid[ae], especially the common European species ( Solea vulgaris), which is a valuable food fish.

2. Any one of several American flounders somewhat resembling the true sole in form or quality, as the California sole ( Lepidopsetta bilineata), the long-finned sole ( Glyptocephalus zachirus), and other species.

   Lemon, or French, sole (Zo["o]l.), a European species of sole ( Solea pegusa).

   Smooth sole (Zo["o]l.), the megrim.

"perform oral sex on," c.1917, from French (adj.), reflecting Anglo-Saxon equation of Gallic culture and sexual sophistication. Related: Frenched; frenching.

c.1200, frensh, frenche, "pertaining to France or the French," from Old English frencisc "French," originally "of the Franks," from franca, the people name (see Frank). A similar contraction of -ish is in Dutch, Scotch, Welsh, suggesting the habit applies to the names of only the intimate neighbors.\n

\nIn some provincial forms of English it could mean simply "foreign." Used in many combination-words, often dealing with food or sex: French dressing (by 1860); French toast (1630s); French letter "condom" (c.1856, perhaps on resemblance of sheepskin and parchment), french (v.) "perform oral sex on," and French kiss (1923) all probably stem from the Anglo-Saxon equation of Gallic culture and sexual sophistication, a sense first recorded 1749 in the phrase French novel. (In late 19c.-early 20c., a French kiss was a kiss on each cheek.) French-Canadian is from 1774; french doors is by 1847. To take French leave, "depart without telling the host," is 1771, from a social custom then prevalent. However, this is said to be called in France filer à l'anglaise, literally "to take English leave."

from Old English frencisc (early Middle English frencisc, frenscen) "French person; the French nation," from the adjective (see French (adj.)). From c.1300 as "the French language." Euphemistic meaning "bad language" (pardon my French) is from 1895. French Français is from Medieval Latin *francencis, from francus "a Frank" + nationality suffix -ensis "belonging to" (see -ese).

vb. 1 (context transitive English) To prepare food by cutting it into strips. 2 (context transitive English) To kiss (another person) while inserting one’s tongue into the other person's mouth. 3 (context intransitive English) To kiss in this manner.

French is an anglicised version of Defreine which has a Norman Irish origin.

The DeFreines, the ffrenches, and the Frenches, who were of noble blood, came to Ireland with Strongbow during the Norman invasion of Ireland from 1169 to 1172 AD. There were and still are two or three families of Irish peers who carry the names DeFréine, ffrench, and French. As Anglo-Normans the French family became one of the 14 Tribes of Galway, helping to found the town in 1425 AD, fortifying it to keep the locals out.

French is or was the surname of the following individuals (alphabetized by first name):

• Adrienne French (born 1987), fine art photographer
• Alexander French (born 1980), Hong Kong cricketer
• Alice Masak French (1930–2013), Canadian Inuit writer
• Annie French (1873–1965), Scottish artist
• Anthony French (born 1920), English professor of physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Bob French (jazz musician) (contemporary), American drummer
• Brett French (contemporary), Australian rugby league footballer
• Bruce French (actor) (born 1945), American actor
• Bruce French (cricketer) (born 1959), English cricketer
• Charles K. French (1860–1952), American actor
• Charlie French (1883–1962), American baseball player
• Christopher French, Irish theologian
• Sir Christopher French, a British judge
• Daniel French (inventor) (1770–1853), American inventor and steamboat pioneer
• Daniel Chester French (1850–1931), American sculptor
• David H. French (1918–1994), American anthropologist and linguist; expert on Native Americans
• David French (playwright) (born 1939), Canadian playwright best known for Leaving Home (1971) and other plays about the Mercer family
• David French (charity administrator) (born 1947), English administrator of Westminster Foundation
• Dawn French (born 1957), Welsh-English actress, writer and comedy performer
• Domingo French (1774–1825), Argentine leader of May Revolution and War of Independence
• Edward French (bishop), Bishop of Elphin from 1787 to 1810
• Elizabeth French (contemporary), English archaeologist
• Emma Lee French (1836–1897), English immigrant to Southwestern United States who became known as a caregiver
• Freddie French (1911–1989), New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer
• Frederick Fillmore French (1883–1936), American real estate entrepreneur
• Gary French (contemporary), Australian rugby league footballer
• George French (1841–1921), Canadian law-enforcement officer
• Heather French (born 1974), American beauty pageant winner
• Hollis French (born 1958), member of the Alaska Senate
• Ian French (born 1960), Australian rugby league footballer
• James French (murderer) (1936–1966), American criminal; became sole prisoner executed in 1966
• James R. French (contemporary), American aerospace engineer
• Jay Jay French (born 1952), American guitarist
• Jim French (cowboy) (before 1865–after 1879), American frontier figure who became known as an outlaw
• Jim French (photographer) (born 1932), American artist and photographer of homoerotica who has used pseudonym Rip Colt
• Jim French (baseball) (born 1941), American catcher active during the 1960s and 1970s
• Jim French (radio) (contemporary), American voice actor and producer
• Joe French (footballer), English footballer with Southampton and New Brompton in 1890s/1900s
• John French (physician) (1616–1657), English doctor and chemist
• John R. French (1819–1890), American publisher, editor and political figure
• John French, 1st Earl of Ypres (1852–1925), English military leader, Commander of British Expeditionary Force in World War I
• John French, 2nd Earl of Ypres (1881–1958), English army officer and artist; son of 1st Earl
• John William French (1888–1970), Canadian political figure
• John Alexander French (1914–1942), Australian soldier; posthumous recipient of Victoria Cross for valor in World War II
• John French (racing driver) (born 1930), Australian champion racer of the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s
• Joe French (born 1948), British Air Chief Marshal, Royal Air Force commander
• John French (musician) (born 1949), American drummer
• John French (ice hockey) (born 1950), Canadian ice hockey player
• Joseph Lewis French (1858–1936), American novelist, editor, and poet
• Joseph Nathaniel French (1888–1975), architect
• Kate French (born 1984), American actress
• Katy French (1983–2007), Irish socialite and model
• Kenneth French (born 1954), American economist
• Kristen French (1976–1992), Canadian murder victim
• Marilyn French (born 1929), American author
• Mary Billings French, American heiress
• Melinda Ann French (born 1964), American philanthropist married to Bill Gates; best known as Melinda Gates
• Michael French (born 1962), English actor best known for his TV roles of David Wicks on EastEnders and Nick Jordan on Casualty and Holby City
• Micky French (born 1955), English footballer
• Nicki French (born 1964), English singer
• Patrick French (bishop), Bishop of Elphin from 1731 to 1748
• Percy French (1854–1920), Irish songwriter, performer and painter
• Ray French (baseball) (1895–1978), American Major League shortstop of the 1920s; later Minor League manager and umpire
• Ray H. French (1919–2000), American artist and print maker
• Ray French (contemporary), English rugby radio commentator and former player
• Robert French (born 1947), Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Rufus French (born 1978), American football player
• Samuel French (1821–1898), American entrepreneur and theatrical publisher
• Samuel Gibbs French (1818–1910), American Army officer who served as Confederate major general during Civil War
• Sarah French, American beauty contest winner who subsequently became TV news reporter
• Seán French (1890-1937), Irish Fianna Fáil political figure who served in Dáil and as Lord Mayor of Cork (1924–29 and 1932–37)
• Seán French (1931–2011), Irish Fianna Fáil political figure who served in Dáil and as Lord Mayor of Cork (1976–77)
• Susan French (1912–2003), American television, film and stage actress
• Tana French (1973-), Irish novelist and theatrical actress
• Valerie French (actress) (1928–1990), English-American performer who played leads in six 1956–57 films
• Valerie French (wrestling) (born 1962), American wrestling personality best known under ring name "Sunshine"
• Victor French (1934–1989), American actor best known for playing in support of Michael Landon on TV series Highway to Heaven
• Walter French (baseball) (1899–1984), American outfielder for Philadelphia Athletics who played in 1929 World Series
• Walter French (cricket umpire) (before 1905–1961), Australian cricket figure who umpired 1931 Test matches
• Warren French (born 1963), Founder of the Victorian Geocaching Club
• William H. French (1815–1881), American Union Army general in Civil War

French (first name and dates unknown) was an English first-class cricketer who was active in the 1780s. He was recorded playing in one match at Windmill Down in August 1790, scoring 0 and 1 not out. He held one catch.

French may refer to:

• French, an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to France
  • French language, a Romance language which originated in France, and its various dialects
  • French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France
  • French nationality law
• French (surname), including a list of people with the surname
• French River (disambiguation), name of several rivers and other places
• French's, an American manufacturer of mustard condiment
• The French (band), British rock band
• French catheter scale, a system for measuring the size of a catheter
• French kiss, a type of kiss