cheptel

French

Etymology

Alteration (based on the Latin source) of Old French chetel, itself an alteration (after chef (“important”)) of chatel, from Medieval Latin or Late Latin capitāle (in the sense of “head of cattle”), substantivization of Latin capitālis. Doublet of capital. Cognate with English cattle (from Old Northern French) and chattel (from common Old French).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃɛp.tɛl/, (now rarer) /ʃə.tɛl/

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Noun

cheptel m (plural cheptels)

1. livestock

   Synonym: bétail

2. herd; crowd (of people)

Further reading

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