couillette

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French couillette.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ku.jɛt/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

couillette f (plural couillettes)

1. (archaic) little testicle
2. (informal) dispenser cap
3. (colloquial) mistake, error

Middle French

Etymology

couille +‎ -ette (“little testicle”).

Noun

couillette f (plural couillettes)

1. (vulgar, vocative) an insult, similar to couillon
   • 1552, Rabelais, Le Tiers Livre:

     Escoute ça, couillette. Vids-tu oncques le froc du moine de Castres?
     Listen, dickhead. Do you see the gown of the monk from Castres?

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (vulgar, vocative) in the following example, seems to be an affectionate if vulgar nickname
   • 1552, Rabelais, Le Tiers Livre:

     Ie le veulx (respondit frere Ian) bien voluntiers, pour l’amour de toy couillette. Car ie t’ayme du bon du foye.

     Yes, I want to, (replied friar Jan), willingly, for my love of you my little testicle. For I love you from the bottom of my liver.

Usage notes

• In the Middle French period, only used in the works of Rabelais. Has been used occasionally in the modern French period.