English edit

Noun edit

Johnny Crapaud (plural Johnny Crapauds)

  1. (offensive, derogatory, ethnic slur) A Frenchman.
    • 1887 July, Henry Frith, “Our Cricket-Match at Sandilands”, in The Boy's Own Paper[1], number 101, Canadian reprint of volume 9, number 438 (June 4, 1887), Toronto: Warwick & Sons, page 579:
      "I say, you fellows, Johnny Crapaud says he can play cricket!” exclaimed Crow one morning. “What fun!”
    • 1901, Edward Vizetelly, “Cairo After the Occupation”, in From Cyprus to Zanzibar, by the Egyptian Delta[2], page 231:
      The French were very sore about the unceremonious manner in which the Dual Control was dispensed with. Their simple statesmen seemed to think that we, who had complacently picked the chestnuts out of the fire, were going to share them. Earl Granville, in kindness of heart, offered Johnny Crapaud a consolation sop in the form of the Presidency of the Public Debt Department, which was sulkily refused, and Johnny Crapaud retired to his tent, thence to cause us petty annoyances whenever he could.