hibou
French edit
Etymology edit
Eventually imitative. Possibly from or influenced by a descendant of Proto-Germanic *hūwô and/or *uwwilǭ. Compare Old High German hūwo, ūvo, (h)ūwila and, as a borrowing into Romance, Catalan òbila, òliba. If so, related with English owl. Compare also Latin būbo.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
hibou m (plural hiboux)
Usage notes edit
Only seven words in French ending in -ou have their plurals in -oux instead of -ous: bijou, caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou.
Derived terms edit
See also edit
Further reading edit
- “hibou”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Louisiana Creole edit
Etymology edit
Noun edit
hibou
References edit
- Alcée Fortier, Louisiana Folktales