phalène

French

Etymology

From Ancient Greek φάλαινα (phálaina).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fa.lɛn/

• Audio:

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Noun

phalène m or f (plural phalènes)

1. moth (especially a geometrid moth)
   • 1976, Serge Gainsbourg (lyrics and music), “Lunatic Asylum”, in L’homme à tête de chou:

     Mais merde les phalènes, frémissantes de stress / Interceptent en vol mes signaux de détresse, manque de bol

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Further reading

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