échansonne

French

Etymology

Feminine of échanson, from Middle French échanson, from Old French eschanson (“officer in charge of serving drinks to the table of a king or a prince, cupbearer”), a borrowing from Frankish *skankijō (“cupbearer”), from Proto-Germanic *skankijaną (“to pour in; serve drinks”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)keng- (“to limp; be crooked; slant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e.ʃɑ̃.sɔn/

Noun

échansonne f (plural échansonnes, masculine échanson)

1. a female cupbearer (officer who is responsible for serving drinks to a king or noble)
2. (by extension) a female drink server (someone whose job is to serve drinks)