cerf-volant

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɛʁ.vɔ.lɑ̃/

• Audio

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Noun

cerf-volant m (plural cerfs-volants)

1. stag beetle
2. kite (toy)
3. (geometry) kite

Usage notes

Often used in puns because it is a homophone of cerveau lent (“slow brain”).

Derived terms

• cervolisme
• cervoliste

Further reading

• “cerf-volant”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.