comptoir

See also: Comptoir

French

Alternative forms

• comtoir

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French comptoir, comtoir, contoir (also comptoer, contoer, comptouer, contouer), from compter, conter (“to count”) + -oir (“instrument suffix”) calquing earlier Medieval Latin computātōrium. By surface analysis, compter +‎ -oir.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃.twaʁ/

• Audio (Canada):

  (file)

Noun

comptoir m (plural comptoirs)

1. a counter, countertop, as of a store or bank

   comptoir de crème glacée ― ice cream counter

   • 2018, Zaz, Saint-Valentin:

     J’irai dans un bar ce soir. […] Je me battrai pour une place au comptoir.

     I'm going to a bar tonight. […] I'm going to fight for a spot at the counter.

2. a trading post in overseas colonies
3. a cartel, a cartel agreement

Derived terms

• de comptoir
• fille de comptoir
• pilier de comptoir

 

Further reading

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