aubaine
English edit
Etymology edit
From French aubain (“an alien”) (as in droit d’aubaine), from Old French aubene, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Latin alibi (“elsewhere”) or from Frankish *alibanus (“of or belonging to another ban”).
Noun edit
aubaine
- (historical, law) The inheritance of goods from a foreigner who died in a country where he was not naturalised.
French edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From aubain (“non-naturalised foreigner”). Later meanings are an extension of the legal sense.
Noun edit
aubaine f (plural aubaines)
- the inheritance of goods belonging to a foreigner who died in a country where they have not been naturalised (the doctrine of droit d'aubaine)
- godsend, boon, windfall
- Synonyms: pain bénit, don du ciel
- bargain, steal
Etymology 2 edit
Adjective edit
aubaine
Further reading edit
- “aubaine”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.