The Crimson Heirlooms

by Hunter Dennis

  dîme – (DEEM) “dime.”

  dîner – (DEEN-ae) “dinner.”

  dis tout – (DEE-too) best translation is “crap!”

  Donegal – (DONNY-gol) English.

  doppelkopf – (DOP-el-KOPF) German, “double heads.”

  draíochta – (DREE-oc-tah) Irish, “magic.”

  drochthuar – (DROCK-oo-er) Irish, “bad omen, evil foreboding.”

  droits féodaux – (DWAH FEO-do) “feudal rights.”

  DuBois – (DO-bwa)

  duc – (DOO) “duke”.

  Dumas – (DYU-mah) see gens de couleur libre for more information.

  Dumort (DYU-more)

  Durain – (DUHR-ah)

  eau de Cologne – (OO doo COL-own-yeh) “Water of Cologne.” Giovanni Maria Farina, an Italian, made the first mass-produced men’s scent with a consistent smell in the German city of Cologne in 1709. It became such a sensation that the city’s name became synonymous with men’s perfume, probably to the irritation of Italians ever since.

  eau de vie – (OO-doo-vee) “water of life.” In France, a general term for strong fruit spirits of various types, which may be differentiated further, i.e. eau-de-vie de vin – “water of life of wine,” which would be brandy.

  Écureuil – (EE-coo-ray)

  Éirinn go brách – (AYE-rin GOBROCK) Irish, “Ireland forever.”

  élégant – (EE-LEE-gah) “elegant.”

  Eliphas – (EL-lee-fah)

  Emile – (EM-eel)

  en enfer – (ONON-fair) “in hell,” but a better translation would be “to hell.”

  en masse – (ON-MAHS) “in mass.”

  en vogue – (ON VUG-uh) “fashionable.”

  encule toi – (ON-cool TWA) “f—k you.”

  Enns – (ENCE)

  entré – (ON-TRAY) “entry”

  Eoin, Athair Mac Giolla – (Owen, Uh-hair MUCK Gihl-lah) Irish. Athair means “father.”

  Erdre – (AIR-dreh)

  Ériu – (AIR-ru) Irish, ancient name for the island of Ireland.

  esprit de corps – (ES-pree doo core) “spirit of the body,” body used in the English sense of group or unit.

  Estaing, Comte d’ - (COMPT-DES-tohn)

  Eugène – (OO-zhen)

  D’Évreux, Pierre – (DEEV-roh, PEE-yair)

  Fabre, Captain Henri-Marie Jacques, Comte l’Aigle – (ON-ree-MAR-ree ZHACK FARB, COMPT-laig-leh)

  faim de plus – (FAM doo PLOOS) “hungry for more.”

  fais ce que voudras – (FACE-say-kay VOO-dra) “do whatever you want.”

  Falaise – (FAL-laze)

  famille – (FAHM-ee-ya) “family.”

  fasces – (FASH-shehs) Latin.

  fatiguer – (FAH-tee-gay) “tired”

  faubourg – (FWAH-boor) “suburb.” Keep in mind, a suburb for walkers is a lot different than a driver’s. In the 18th Century, being less than a mile from the city center usually put you in a faubourg.

  Fidèle – (FEE-del)

  fils de salope – (FEES duh SAL-ohp) “son of a whore.”

  De Flaine, Marquis – (FLANE, MAR-key duh)

  fleur-de-lis – (FLOOR-doo-lee) sometimes fleur-de-lys, “Lily Flower.” The three petals of the stylized lily had a legion of symbolic meanings and representations. It represents the Trinity, the French monarchy, and the three classes, amongst other things. No one knows for sure, but most likely (i.e. in my opinion) the symbol was brought to France by the Umayyad Muslim invaders in 719 AD. The Umayyad used the emblem as a symbol of warrior prowess.

  Fleury – (FLU-ree)

  förbaskad – (fer-BAS-kad) Swedish, “damn.”

  foutre – (FOOT-reh) “f—k.”

  foutu – (FOO-chew) “f—king.”

  franc – (FRON) First used as the name of the one livre coin, it became the name of the entire French currency in 1795, and remained so until the adoption of the Euro which took place between 1999 and 2002.

  Franche-Comté – (FRANSH-a-COMP-TAY)

  frappante – (FRA-pont) “striking.”

  fricassée – (FREE-cah-say)

  gabelle – (GAHB-el)

  Gabin – (GAHB-on)

  Gaeilge – (GAY-lick) Irish, “Irish.” The Irish are Celts… but a celt is actually a tool, a kind of implement - archeologists named a people after something they dug up from ruins. The Celts call themselves Gaels. It is the origin of words such as Gaul, what the Romans called Celtic France.

  Gap – (GAP)

  garance – (GAH-ronce) “madder,” the plant, not the emotion.

  gens de couleur libre – (ZHON DAY COO-lore LEEB) “free people of color.” One of my favorite authors was an aristocratic gen de couleur libre. His name was Alexandre Dumas, père (“father,” his son of the same name was also a writer) and he lived from 1802-1870. He wrote The Three Musketeers, The Man in the Iron Mask, and The Count of Monte Cristo. He was also responsible for most of our modern Robin Hood stories, and our mythology regarding werewolves and vampires. Jake saw one of his plays!

  Gerard – (ZHER-ahr)

  Glonne – (GLUN)

  Gobelins – (GOOB- lah)

  gomme arabique – (GAHM AH-ra-beek) “gum arabic,” acacia sap, used in makeup, paints, wine production, and food as a stabilizer and sweetener. It is also an edible glue. We use it on postage stamps.

  grande cuisine – (GRAN COO-zine) “grand cooking.”

  Greffier, Antoine Thibault – (GREF-yay, ON-twon TEE-bolt)

  Griffe – (GREEF)

  Grimpeurs – (GRAN-pear)

  guède – (GEHD) “wode.” Remember the blue face paint in Braveheart? That was made from wode. I think “Getcher wode on!” needs to become an expression… immediately.

  Guerrier – (GEH-ree-ay), Féroce (FAIR-rus), Seonaidh (SHIN-aid), Estelle (ES-tell), Guillaume (GHEE-yome).

  Guigou, Solange – (GIE-goo, SO-lahnzh)

  Guillere – (GILE-ray)

  Gutek – (GOO-teck) Polish.

  Haïti – (AE-ee-tee)

  Halle – (ALL-eh) “halls.”

  Hamann, Johann Georg – (HAH-man, YO-hahn GAY-org) German.

  Haute Grande Rue – (HUT GRAN ROO) “High Street,” more or less. Now Rue Saint-Pierre.

  haute société – (HUT SO-see-eh-tay) “high society.”

  Hervé – (AIR-vay)

  De Heulee, de – (doo OO-lee)

  Horatii – (ORE-ah-tee)

  Horatius One-Eye – (HOR-ah-tee-us) The Romans, early in their career, were routed in battle nearly at the gates of Rome. A junior officer, Horatius Cocles (COCK-lees, One-Eye – having lost one in battle previously), waited until the Roman forces were across the Tiber, then he held the Sublicius (SOO-blee-choos) bridge himself - and ordered the Romans to destroy it… while he was still fighting on it. He fought the entire enemy army until the bridge was gone, then uttered a prayer to the Gods, jumped into the river, and managed to swim to safety. He single-handedly saved Rome. I’ll hold your beer – your turn.

  hors d'âge – (ORE dazh) “past age”

  hôtel – (OH-tell) This word means “manor,” or “great house,” more than “fancy inn.” Although a fancy inn can certainly be in a manor…

  Hôtel de la Première Présidence – (OH-tell doo la PREM-ear PRES-ee-dahns) “Manor of the First President.”

  Huguenot – (OO-gen-oh)

  Île de Gorée – (ILL doo GO-RAY) Historical Place.

  Île de la Cité – (ILL doo la SEE-tay)

  Íosa Críost – (EE-sa CHREEST) Irish. “Jesus Christ.”

  Isaäc – (EE-zak)

  Jacmel – (ZHAC-mel)

  jardinière – (ZHAR-deen-yair) “planter, vase.”

  je ne sais quoi – (ZHU-neh-say-kwah) “I don’t know what.”

  Jean – (ZHON)

  jean-foutre – (ZHON-FOOT-reh) “John f—ker”. An American would say “motherf—ker.”

  Jeziorkowski, August “Gutek” – (YEZH-er-KOF-ski, AU-gust “GOO-tek”) Polish.

  joie de vivre – (ZHWAH doo VEEV) “joy
of life.” It is a philosophy of finding joy in the moment, especially through the elevation of small and routine tasks. Sitting down and enjoying your coffee, rather than getting a paper to-go cup. To an American, in regard to caffeine, this is more like torture. Bring good instant coffee to France. You are warned.

  Joliefille – (ZHO-lay-fie) “Pretty Girl.”

  Journée des Tuiles – (ZHOR-nay day TWILE) “Day of Tiles.”

  Jozef – (YO-zef) Central European

  keine – (KINE-ah) German, “Negative.”

  kontra – (CONE-tra) German, “counter,” as in something that is contraindicative.

  Lamarque – (LA-mark)

  De Landerneau, Marquis de – (doo LON-der-no, MAR-kee)

  Lefaucheux, Casimir – (LOO-foo-shoe, KAS-ee-meer)) Brilliant weapon smith, easily forty years ahead of his time. He invented the first metal cartridge. Most of his weapons were categorized by his last name and a number or date.

  Lefleaur – (LEF-fluer)

  Leroux, Pierre – (LOO-roe, PEE-yaire)

  lettre de cachet – (LET-treh doo CASH-ae) “sealed letter.” With a signature, the king could arrest anyone. Amongst the drawbacks of this arrangement was the fact that people with royal influence could get the king’s signature on a lettre de cachet, and arrest anyone too.

  levée – (LOO-vey) “raising.”

  livres – (LEEV-reh) French currency. Established by Charlemagne as a pound of silver, it was divided into 20 sous (or 20 sols), and each sous of 12 denier. It was the model for nearly every other European currency, including the British pound, Italian lira, Spanish dinero and the Portuguese dinheiro. In use from 781 to 1794, discontinued due to the revolutionary slogan of “if it’s working, change it.”

  Loa – (LEW-ah)

  Loire – (LOO-ar)

  Louis-le-Grand – (LOO-ee-le-GRAHN)

  Louis-Philippe – (LOO-ee FEE-leep)

  Louvre – (LOOV-reh)

  Loys – (LOO-ah)

  Lundberg – (LUND-bear) German.

  Lycée – (LEE-say) “high school.”

  Lycurgus – (LIE-kur-gus) Greek. Lived during the 9th Century BC. The founder of the Spartan way. Also called “Triple Badass Motherf---er.”

  Lyon – (LEE-ohn)

  Mac Cumhaill, Fionn – (MA-cool, FYUN) Irish. The Hercules of Irish mythology.

  Machiavelli – (MA-kia-VELL-ie) Italian. Pray for his soul.

  MacInnes, Ivor – (MAC-innis, EYE-vor) Scottish. A character name from “Trinity,” a nod to Leon Uris.

  Madame – (MAH-dam)

  Mademoiselle – (MAH-dem-wa-zell)

  Maine – (MEHN)

  maître d’hôtel – (MAY-treh DOH-tel) “Master of the Manor.” Head servant, majordomo, butler.

  Maman – (MAM-oh) “Mom.”

  Mamelouk – (MAM-loke) “Mamluk”. Ancient Muslim warrior-slaves.

  manoir – (MAN-wah) “manor.”

  marabou – (MAR-ah-boo) an African stork.

  marais – (MAR-ae) literally “swamp.”

  Marat, Jean-Paul – (MAR-RAH, ZHON POHL)

  Marie-Lynn – (MAH-ree LEEN)

  Marillais – (MAH-ree-yay)

  Marquer, Edmée– (MAR-kay, ED-me)

  Marquis de Bonchamps – see “Bonchamps”

  Marseillaise – (MAR-say-yehs) This genocidal Nazi rant is still the national anthem of France. Read the lyrics carefully, they are horrifying.

  Marshalbes – (MAR-shalb)

  marshall – (MAR-shall)

  Martin – (MAR-tohn)

  Massillon – (MASS-ee-yohn)

  Meaux – (MOO)

  merci – (MARE-see) “thank you.”

  merde – (MARED) “shit.”

  merdique nègre – (MARE-deek NEG) “shitty n----r.” Americans would say (or hopefully not say) “f---ing n----r.”

  mes amies – (MES-ah-me) “my friends.”

  mesdames – (MAY-dam) “ladies.”

  messieurs – (MISS-yer) “gentlemen.”

  Méthode – (MAY-tod)

  Meyerbeer – (MY-er-BEER) German.

  Miette – (ME-et)

  mignonette – (MIN-yahn-et)

  Milot – (MEE-low)

  míthuar – (ME-huar) Irish, “ill omen or foreboding.”

  Moliniere – (MO-leen-yair)

  mon ami – (MON AH-me) “my friend.”

  mon dieu – (MON-dyuh) “my God.”

  monsieur – (MUH-schur) “gentleman, sir, lord, mister.”

  Montesquieu – (MON-tes-queue)

  Montreuil – (MON-tray-ee)

  Montserrat – (MON-ser-ah)

  Morte d'Arthur, le – (lay MORT de-DAR-tour) “The Death of Arthur.” Elaine (EE-lay-neh), Astolat (AZ-do-lah), Lancelot (LON-say-low), Guinevere (GUIN-vair), Arthur (AH-tur), Camelot (CAM-low).

  Du Motier, Gilbert, Marquis de Lafayette – (doo MOH-tee-ae, ZHIL-bear, MAR-kee doo LAF-aye-yet) Historical figure.

  Mounier, Jean Joseph – (ZHON ZHO-sef MOON-yee)

  Mulâtre – (MOO-latr) “Mulatto.”

  De Musset – (doo MOO-say)

  Nantes – (NONT)

  Napoleon – (NAH-po-leon) There are only three titans of war: Alexander the Great, Hannibal, and this man – Napoleon. He was brilliant and devious in just about every way in which a person could be. His only mistake was severely underestimating the Russian will, and their absurd, nearly inhuman capacity for self-sacrifice. If not for that, the world was his oyster. In his defense, he was not the only one to ever make that mistake. Russia is God’s cure for martial narcissism.

  Nattier, Jean-Marc – (NAH-tyae, ZHON MARK)

  ne plus ultra – (NEH ples UHL-TRA) “nothing above,” the perfect example of its kind.

  Nîmes – (NEEM)

  Nooit Sterven – (NO-it STAIR-va) Dutch, “never die.” We would say, “die hard.”

  Notre Dame de Paris – (NO-tr DAHM doo PAH-ree) “Our Lady of Paris.”

  Ó Baoighill, Bhiorog – see “Bhiorog Ó Baoighill.”

  Ó Brollachain – (OH BRAHL-lehk-ahn) Irish. Seonaidh (SHIN-aid), Iníongael (EE-nan-gail), Aodh Dubh (AE DO), Ingen (EHN-ghen), Eigneachan (AE-gah-nakh-an)

  Ó Conchubhair – (OH CON-aghk -wer) Irish.

  obers – (OO-bahs) German, in cards, the equivalent to a Queen.

  octroi – (OOKED-twah) “granting, bestowal.”

  Olivier, Jérôme Charles – (ZHER-ome SHARL OH-liv-ee-ae)

  orans – (OH-rans) Latin, “praying.”

  Orinoco – (OH-reen-OH-co) Spanish.

  Orléanais – (OR-lay-on-ae)

  Orléans – (OR-lay-on)

  Oscuro – (OHS-cureh) Spanish, “dark.” Alternatively, OHS-coo-ROH.

  Ostervald – (OOS-ter-vad) German.

  L’Oublié – (LOO-blee-ae) “the forgotten.”

  oui – (WEE) “yes.” You should really know this.

  l’Ouvrinière – (LOOV-rin-yaire)

  Palais de la Cité – (PAH-lay doo la SEE-TAY)

  Panthéon – (PAHNT-eon)

  Panza, Sancho – (PAHN-zah, SAHN-cho) Spanish. Sancho Panza was the trusted side-kick of Don Quixote in the novel by Miguel Cervantes entitled El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha written in 1605. El Don was a little Cloud Cuckoo Land, and poor Sancho had to follow him everywhere.

  Paris – (PAH-ree)

  Parisii – (PAH-ris-ee)

  Passage du Saumon – (PASS-azh doo SEE-mon)

  Pechegru – (PAY-shay-groo)

  Le Peletier – (le PAY-LOW-tyae)

  Pépin, Anne – (PAY-pohn, AHN) Historical figure. She had a bit of a reputation in her day, something between Mata Hari and the Queen of Sheba.

  Périer – (PEHR-ee-ae)

  Petit – (POO-tee)

  Petite Princesse de Nantes – (PET-ee PRAN-sess doo NOHNT) “little princess of Nantes.”

  Petite Rue de Reuilly - (POO-ee ROO doo ROO-lee)

  Pianoforte – (PEE-ah-no-FOR-tay) Italian, “piano.”

  Pierre, Jean-Baptiste Marie – (PEE-air, ZHON BAP-tees
t MAH-ree)

  Pinceau – (PAN-so)

  Pistole – (PEES-tohl)

  Place d’Oratoire - (PLAHS DORA-twah)

  Place de la Bastille (PLAHS doo la BAS-tee-yeh)

  Place Plumereau – (PLAHS PLOOM-air-roh)

  Place Royale – (PLAHS ROY-ahl)

  Place Vendôme – (PLAHS VON-doom)

  Pluche – (PLOOSH)

  Poissard – (PWESS-arh)

  Poitín – (PWAH-teen) Irish. Do not drink this shite. Ever.

  Poitou – (PWA-too)

  Pompadour, de – (POM-pa-durh, doo)

  Le Poney Piquant – (lay PO-nay PEE-cahn) “The Prancing Pony.” Hobbits, wizards and rangers are usually not seen in the Paris franchise.

  Port au Vin – (PORO-vah)

  Port Saint-Nicholas - (POUR-san-NEE-co-lah)

  Port-Au-Prince – (PORU-PRANCE)

  Pour le Mérite Militaires – (POOR lay MAY-reet MEE-lee-taire) The vaunted Blue Max, the highest Prussian, then German, military medal. The influence of French thinking and culture was such that it was named and inscribed in French, and not German.

  Pourboire – (POOR-bwah) “for beer.” We would call it a tip.

  Presbytère – (PRES-bee-taire) “presbytery.” Priest’s quarters.

  Président – (PRES-ee-dohn) “president.”

  Prévost, Augustine – (PRAY-voh, AW-gus-teen)

  procureur – (PRO-kyu-aire) “prosecutor.”

  Prospel – (PRO-spell)

  prostituée à bas prix (PROS-tit-oo-AE ah-bah PREE) “cheap whore.”

  Pułaski, Comte – (POO-ahs-kee, COMPT)

  putain – (PYOO-tah) “whore.”

  Quarteron – (CARE-tour-on) “a small number.”

  Quartier-Morin – (CAT-ee-ae MOHR-uh)

  quéquette – (KAY-ket) “pecker,” as in the male member.

  Quinze-Vingts – (KONZ-ah-VAH) “Fifteen Score.”

  Rabelais – (RAB-lay)

  Rabourdin, Daniel – (RAB-or-dohn, DAN-yell) unless he’s in America… then its Daniel Rabordin. But he needs to be in France, because France needs him.

  Raphaël – (RAF-ah-el)

  Rapide – (RAH-peed) “fast.”

  Le Ray, René, de Fumet - (REN-ae le RAY doo FOO-may)

  Raymond – (RAY-mohn)

  Régiment d'Agénois – (REYZH-ee-mon DAZH-en-wah)

  Régiment Royal-La-Marine – (REZH-ee-mohn ROY-ahl la MA-reen)

  Régiment Royal-Suédois – (REZH-ee-mohn ROY-ahl SWEE-dwah)

  Reims – (RONCE)

  République d'Haïti – (RAY-poob-leek DAY-TEE) “Republic of Haiti.”

  restaurant – (REES-tah-ranh) unbelievably, “restaurant.”