carcan

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin carcanum (“collar”), the etymology of which is unknown.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kaʁ.kɑ̃/

• Audio:

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• Audio (Canada):

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Noun

carcan m (plural carcans)

1. yoke, shackles
2. straitjacket
   • 1985, “Partenaire Particulier”, in Jeux interdits, performed by Partenaire Particulier:

     J’en ai assez de ce carcan qui m’enferme dans toutes ses règles / Il me dit de rester dans la norme, mais l’on finit par s’y ennuyer

     I've had enough of this straitjacket that hems me in with all its rules / It tells me to stay within the norm, but if you do that you end up bored

   • 1991, “Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy”, in Bouleversifiant, performed by Les Inconnus:

     Et pour sortir de ce carcan / Économique, capitaliste / Il faut savoir dire "non, non, non, mec !"

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

See also

• camisole de force

Further reading

• “carcan”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.