Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Popular Searches
Nearby Words

sansculottish

 - 2 dictionary results

sans-cu⋅lotte

  [sanz-kyoo-lot, -koo-; Fr. sahn-ky-lawt]
Use sansculottish in a Sentence
–noun, plural sans-cu⋅lottes  [sanz-kyoo-lots, -koo-; Fr. sahn-ky-lawt] .
1. (in the French Revolution) a revolutionary of the poorer class: originally a term of contempt applied by the aristocrats but later adopted as a popular name by the revolutionaries.
2. any extreme republican or revolutionary.
Origin:
1780–90; < F: lit., without knee breeches

Related forms:
sans-cu⋅lot⋅tic  [sanz-kyoo-lot-ik, -koo-] , adjective
sans-cu⋅lot⋅tish, adjective
sans-cu⋅lot⋅tism, noun
sans-cu⋅lot⋅tist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sansculottish
Word Origin & History

sans-culotte 
lower-class republican of the Fr. Revolution, 1790, from Fr., lit. "without breeches;" the second element a dim. of cul "bottom, backside," from L. culus. Usually explained as referring to the class whose distinctive costume was pantalons (long trousers) as opposed to the upper classes, which wore culottes (knee-breeches), but this is not certain.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see sansculottish on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way