French leave

French leave
French French (fr[e^]nch), prop. a. [AS. frencisc, LL. franciscus, from L. Francus a Frank: cf. OF. franceis, franchois, fran[,c]ois, F. fran[,c]ais. See {Frank}, a., and cf. {Frankish}.] Of or pertaining to France or its inhabitants. [1913 Webster]

{French bean} (Bot.), the common kidney bean ({Phaseolus vulgaris}).

{French berry} (Bot.), the berry of a species of buckthorn ({Rhamnus catharticus}), which affords a saffron, green or purple pigment.

{French casement} (Arch.) See {French window}, under {Window}.

{French chalk} (Min.), a variety of granular talc; -- used for drawing lines on cloth, etc. See under {Chalk}.

{French cowslip} (Bot.) The {Primula Auricula}. See {Bear's-ear}.

{French fake} (Naut.), a mode of coiling a rope by running it backward and forward in parallel bends, so that it may run freely.

{French honeysuckle} (Bot.) a plant of the genus {Hedysarum} ({H. coronarium}); -- called also {garland honeysuckle}.

{French horn}, a metallic wind instrument, consisting of a long tube twisted into circular folds and gradually expanding from the mouthpiece to the end at which the sound issues; -- called in France {cor de chasse}.

{French leave}, an informal, hasty, or secret departure; esp., the leaving a place without paying one's debts.

{French pie} [French (here used in sense of ``foreign'') + pie a magpie (in allusion to its black and white color)] (Zo["o]l.), the European great spotted woodpecker ({Dryobstes major}); -- called also {wood pie}.

{French polish}. (a) A preparation for the surface of woodwork, consisting of gums dissolved in alcohol, either shellac alone, or shellac with other gums added. (b) The glossy surface produced by the application of the above.

{French purple}, a dyestuff obtained from lichens and used for coloring woolen and silken fabrics, without the aid of mordants. --Ure.

{French red} rouge.

{French rice}, amelcorn.

{French roof} (Arch.), a modified form of mansard roof having a nearly flat deck for the upper slope.

{French tub}, a dyer's mixture of protochloride of tin and logwood; -- called also {plum tub}. --Ure.

{French window}. See under {Window}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • French leave — is Leave of absence without permission or without announcing one s departure , [ Brewer s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (Millennium Edition; London: Cassell, 1999)] including leaving a party without bidding farewell to the host. The intent… …   Wikipedia

  • French leave — Leave Leave, n. [OE. leve, leave, AS. le[ a]f; akin to le[ o]f pleasing, dear, E. lief, D. oorlof leave, G. arlaub, and erlauben to permit, Icel. leyfi. [root]124. See {Lief}.] 1. Liberty granted by which restraint or illegality is removed;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • french leave — To take French leave is to leave a gathering without saying goodbye or without permission …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • French leave — French′ leave′ n. a departure without ceremony, permission, or notice: Taking French leave, he evaded his creditors[/ex] • Etymology: 1765–75 …   From formal English to slang

  • French leave — n. [< 18th c. custom, prevalent in France, of leaving receptions without taking leave of the host or hostess] an unauthorized, unnoticed, or unceremonious departure; act of leaving secretly or in haste …   English World dictionary

  • French leave — n. (obsol.) leaving without saying goodbye to take French leave * * * (obsol.) [ leaving without saying goodbye ] to take French leave (obsol.) [ leaving without saying goodbye ] to take French leave …   Combinatory dictionary

  • French leave —    If you leave an official or social event without notifying the person who invited you, you take French leave.     Is Bill coming back for the closing speech or has he taken French leave? …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • French leave —    unauthorized absence    Originally of a soldier, implying a propensity in French soldiers for desertion. Some civilian and figurative use:     We could still, if we wished, take French leave of Vietnam. (M. McCarthy, 1967) …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • French leave — {n.} The act of slipping away from a place secretly and without saying good bye to anyone. * / It s getting late, Rob whispered to Janet. Let s take French leave and get out of here. / …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • French leave — {n.} The act of slipping away from a place secretly and without saying good bye to anyone. * / It s getting late, Rob whispered to Janet. Let s take French leave and get out of here. / …   Dictionary of American idioms

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