bichon

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English[edit]

A Bichon Frisé.

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from French bichon.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

bichon (plural bichons)

  1. Any of a class of toy dogs with curly or wavy hair and long curled tails.
  2. (especially Canada, US) A Bichon Frisé.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Inherited from Middle French bichon (small long-haired dog), from Old French biche (bitch, female dog), from Old English biċċe (female dog), from Proto-West Germanic *bikkjā, from Proto-Germanic *bikjǭ (female dog, bitch). Cognate with Old Norse bikkja (female dog), German Betze (female dog). Doublet of bitch, see here for more.

Alternative etymology derives through clipping of barbichon (small poodle), a diminutive of barbiche (shaggy dog), however, chronology makes this derivation improbable if not impossible, as bichon is attested since 1588, yet barbichon does not appear until 1694.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bi.ʃɔ̃/
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

bichon m (plural bichons, feminine bichonne)

  1. bichon
  2. lapdog

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]