rosbif

English

Etymology

French rosbif. Doublet of roast beef.

Noun

rosbif (plural rosbifs)

  1. (humorous) An English person (as viewed by the French).
    • 1938, Neil Harmon Swanson, The forbidden ground (page 85)
      Polidor Graindart, sometime sergeant of the intendant's guard in the days when three golden lilies bloomed on the flagstaff above the De Troit blockhouse, never had forgiven the rosbifs for the conquest of New France.
    • 2009, Andy Roberts, Flying the Flag (page 233)
      France demonstrate the entente cordiale towards the rosbifs.

French

Etymology

English roast beef, stereotypical food of the English.

Compare frog (French person), from frog legs, corresponding English term for French, likewise based on food.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʁɔs.bif/

Noun

rosbif m (plural rosbifs)

  1. roast beef
  2. (derogatory, ethnic slur) an English person

Synonyms

  • (English person): buveur de thé

Antonyms

  • (English person): frog (of French, by English)

Further reading


Italian

Etymology

English roast beef

Noun

rosbif m (invariable)

  1. roast beef

Anagrams


Spanish

Etymology

English roast beef

Noun

rosbif m (plural rosbifs)

  1. roast beef
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.