cerf-volant

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɛʁ.vɔ.lɑ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

From cerf (“deer”) +‎ volant (“flying”, present participle of voler, "to fly"), because it is winged, with mandibles that resemble a deer's antlers.

Noun

cerf-volant m (plural cerfs-volants)

1. stag beetle

Etymology 2

Possibly from Old French serpe (“serpent, dragon”) +‎ volant (“flying”), converging with cerf-volant due to the similar pronunciation and appearance.

Noun

cerf-volant m (plural cerfs-volants)

1. kite (toy)
2. (geometry) kite

Derived terms

• cervolisme
• cervoliste

Usage notes

Often used in puns because it is a homophone of cerveau lent (“slow brain”).

Further reading

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