cheptel

French

Etymology

Alteration (based on the Latin source) of Old French chetel, an alteration (after chef (“important”)) of chatel, from Medieval Latin or Late Latin capitāle (“in the sense of head of cattle”), substantivization of Latin capitālis. Compare English cattle, which came ultimately from the same source via an Anglo-Norman/Old Northern French variant. Doublet of capital.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃɛp.tɛl/, /ʃə.tɛl/

Noun

cheptel m (plural cheptels)

1. livestock

Synonyms

• bétail

Further reading

• “cheptel” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).