brocante

French

Etymology

From the verb brocanter (“to deal in second-hand goods”), of obscure origin. Probably either from Dutch brok (“piece, fragment”), or from the same root as Middle French broqueur, abrokeur (“broker”), from Medieval Latin *brocator, abrocator (“broker”), from Old Dutch *brokere (“one who determines the usages of trade, manager”), from broke, bruyck, breuck (“use, usage, trade”), from Proto-Germanic *brūkiz (“use, custom”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg- (“to use, enjoy”). More at broker.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bʁɔ.kɑ̃t/

Noun

brocante f (plural brocantes)

1. Synonym of marché aux puces: flea market; market for bric-à-brac
2. car boot sale; jumble sale

Derived terms

• brocanteur

Related terms

• brocanter

Further reading

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