morpion

English

Etymology

From French, from mordre (“to bite”) + Latin pedis (“louse”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɔː(ɹ)piən/

Noun

morpion (plural morpions)

1. (obsolete) A louse.
   • 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:

     His Flea, his Morpion, and Punese,
     He 'ad gotten for his proper Ease

References

“morpion”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

French

Etymology

From mordre +‎ pion.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɔʁ.pjɔ̃/

• Audio:

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Noun

morpion m (plural morpions)

1. (in the plural) crabs, pubic lice
2. brat, sprog, unruly child
3. tic-tac-toe (US), noughts and crosses (UK)

Further reading

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

Norman

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

morpion m (plural morpions)

1. (Jersey) crab louse