“
Marauding
.
Offensive term which is said of beggars, rascals who have neither good nor honor, who are capable of doing all kinds of cowardice ”, it is pointed out in the
Universal Dictionary
published in 1690. Here is a definition which does not do justice to the 20th century patrols, which crisscross the cities to meet the most disadvantaged today.
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What is the origin of the word marauding?
Whose fault is it ?
Maraude refers in fact to the word
maraud
, possibly resulting from a metaphorical use.
It would, in fact, be the name of the tomcat in the dialects of central and western France.
He would then have taken the meaning of "vagabond, beggar".
But from the 15th century, it takes on a pejorative color, probably because the people carrying out this activity led a wandering life, which never attracted the sympathy of the sedentary.
He was reduced to reaching out to earn his bread until the 16th century.
From then on, the rascal becomes the “beggar”, but also the “trickster”, the “rascal”.
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