volée de bois vert
French
editEtymology
editFrom the 18th century. Volée possibly refers to volée de coups (a flurry of hits), administered to disobedient children with un bâton de bois vert (a cane made from green, or simply fresh wood, as opposed to dry wood, which breaks easily).
Pronunciation
editNoun
editvolée de bois vert f (plural volées de bois vert)