guignon

French

Etymology

From guigner (“to eye someone”), related to the superstition of the evil eye.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡi.ɲɔ̃/

• Audio:

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Noun

guignon m (plural guignons)

1. (informal, dated) (persistent) bad luck

   Synonyms: guigne, poisse

   porter le guignon à quelqu’un ― bring bad luck to someone

   être en (dans le) guignon ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   avoir le guignon ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 1868, Paul Gavarni, “Oraisons funèbres”, in Pierre-Jules Hetzel, editor, Le Diable à Paris, volume 1:

     — En v’là du guignon ! la femme à Salanthoud qui perd son homme le même jour que son chien ! — Pauv femme !… un si beau caniche !

     "What rotten luck! Salanthoud's wife losing her husband and her dog on the same day!" "Poor woman!… such a beautiful poodle!"

Descendants

• → Romanian: ghinion

Further reading

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