gégène

English

Etymology

From French gégène.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʒeɪˈʒɛn/

Noun

gégène (uncountable)

1. (chiefly historical) A form of electroshock torture, especially as used by the French during the Algerian War of 1954-1962, whereby electrodes are run from a field generator to parts of a victim's body.
   • 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 197:

     It was a view that would not necessarily be shared by Algerians subjected to the gégène or having had their bellies pumped full of water during the Battle of Algiers.

   • 2007, Darius Rejali, Torture and Democracy, page 162:

     The politicians were helpless. Paras used the gégène no matter how much politicians condemned it.

   • 2011, Vincent Crapanzano, The Harkis, page 68:

     Refusing to answer questions about the political affiliations of various villagers, he was subjected to the gégène.

French

Etymology

Colloquial abbreviation of génératrice.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʒe.ʒɛn/

Noun

gégène f (plural gégènes)

1. (military, slang) "genny", generator; dynamo
2. electroshock torture, gégène

Further reading

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