gibier de potence

French

Etymology

gibier (“game bird”) +‎ de (“of”) +‎ potence (“gallows”). Literally “gallows game (bird)”, similar construction to gallows bird.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʒi.bje d(ə) pɔ.tɑ̃s/
  • Audio (Paris)(file)

Noun

gibier de potence m (plural gibiers de potence)

  1. a gallows bird, someone destined for or deserving punishment, hanging.
    1855, Honoré de Balzac, Modeste Mignon:
    Pourrais-je aimer un lâche, un homme sans foi, sans honneur, un gibier de potence ?
    Could I love a coward, a man without faith, without honor, a gallows bird?
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