bichon

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English

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A Bichon Frisé.

Etymology

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Borrowed from French bichon.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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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

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Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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French

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Etymology

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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).

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

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  • IPA(key): /bi.ʃɔ̃/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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bichon m (plural bichons, feminine bichonne)

  1. bichon
  2. lapdog

Derived terms

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Further reading

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