English

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Etymology

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From Anglo-Norman pucele, Middle French pucele, perhaps from a Late Latin *pullicella, but the further etymology is disputed.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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pucelle (plural pucelles)

  1. (archaic) A girl, a maiden; a virgin (often with reference to Joan of Arc).
    • 1608 (at the earliest), Ben Jonson, letter to John Fletcher
      Lady or pucelle, that wears mask or fan.
    • 1976, Robert Nye, Falstaff:
      Seven weeks before, Joan of Arc had ridden into Orleans. She was at the height of her strange career.…‘Maid or Witch, Pucelle or Puzzell – she is very hard to understand.’
  2. (obsolete) A prostitute, a slut.

Translations

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French

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Etymology

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Inherited from Middle French pucelle < Old French pucele, first attested in the 10th century as pulcella, from Vulgar Latin *pūllicella, of disputed origin. Possibly a diminutive of Latin pullus (young of animals, chick), or pullus as a contraction of *purulus, from purus (pure). Alternatively from Latin puella (girl) through a Vulgar Latin root *puellicella.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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pucelle f (plural pucelles, masculine puceau)

  1. maiden; virgin
    Elle nest plus pucelle.She's no longer a virgin.
    la Pucelle d’Orléansthe Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc
    • 1954, Georges Brassens (lyrics and music), “La première fille”:
      Qu’elle soit fille honnête / Ou fille de rien / Qu’elle soit pucelle / Ou qu’elle soit putain / On se souvient d’elle / On s’en souviendra / La première fille / Qu’on a pris dans ses bras
      Whether she is a respectable girl / Or a worthless girl / Whether she is a virgin / Or she is a whore / You remember her / You will remember / The first girl / Who you held in your arms
  2. (military) metal regulation badge worn on the chest with insignia indicating the formation to which it belongs

Further reading

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