ouate
See also: ouaté
French edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
Uncertain. Often connected to Arabic بطانة (“lining, inner part”), but this is phonologically difficult.[1] Also compare Arabic [script needed] (batt, “garment”), Hebrew [script needed] (bt, “woven dress”).[2]
Noun edit
ouate f (plural ouates)
- cotton wool
- Synonym: coton hydrophile
- 1986, “C'est la ouate”, in Loeb C.D., performed by Caroline Loeb:
- De toutes les matières
C’est la ouate qu’elle préfère
Passive, elle est pensive
En négligé de soie
C’est la ouate- Of all materials
Cotton wool is her favourite
Passive, she is pensive
In silk négligée
It's cotton wool
- Of all materials
Usage notes edit
This word may optionally resist elision, as though beginning with an aspirated h, even though it is not spelt with an h. The aspirated pronunciation is the older one; the non-aspirate pronunciation has become common.
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
References edit
- ^ “ouate”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
- ^ Watson, Wilfred: Terms for Textiles, Clothing, Hides, Wool and Accessories in Ugaritic: An Etymological Study
Etymology 2 edit
Verb edit
ouate
- inflection of ouater:
Further reading edit
- “ouate”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.