Do you know the meaning of these outdated insults?

Damn it! Molière used the curse "jarni" and "jerniguienne". Marivaux and Bernanos used "jarnibleu". Sand, finally, wrote "jarnigué!". Each of these words was a way of swearing without insulting God. Who was the first to think about it? Maybe Father Coton. The Trésor de la langue française reports this anecdote: "The confessor of Henri IV, would have asked the king to use the euphemism jarnicoton instead of jarnidieu!"

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With each swear word its time. Today, we no longer speak of "maroufle", "sacripant" and "zigomar". But it's a shame. Because each of these terms can always describe the reality of our news. In addition, these names all tell a story. Did you know that the "corniaud" designates a "mongrel dog"? that the "forban" characterized a "sailor who carried out piracy for his own account and not that of a sovereign or a government"?

Le Figaro invites you to rediscover the origin and meaning of these insults from the French dictionary.

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