faume

Norman

Alternative forms

• fâme, faumme (Guernsey)
• femme (Jersey, continental Normandy)
• foume (continental Normandy)
• fenme (Cotentin)

Etymology

From Old French femme, feme, fame, fenme, from Latin fēmina, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥n-eh₂ (“who sucks”), derivation of the verbal root *dʰeh₁(y)- (“to suck, suckle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔm/, /fɔːm/

Noun

faume f (plural faumes)

1. (Guernsey) wife
   • 2006, Peggy Collenette, “Au shaoux du Vouest”, in P'tites Lures Guernésiaises, Cromwell Press, page 16:

     Mess Gaudiaon et sa faume la Sophie decidirent qui voulais allai au shaoux du Vouest.

     Mr Gaudion and his wife Sophie decided that they wanted to go to the West Show.

2. (Guernsey) woman
   • 2006, Marie de Garis, “Enne p'tite ôlure”, in P'tites Lures Guernésiaises, Cromwell Press, page 24:

     V'là les daeux faummes à palaïr atour les r'v'énànts et toutes sortes dé sorcheul'rie et ditaï tché, en buvànt leurs thée.

     There were the two women talking about ghosts and all sorts of witchcraft and such things while drinking their tea.