To be afraid of the garri-babou is to be afraid of not much, of its shadow, to be cowardly.
Who is this babou?
On the Occitan Etymology site, Robert Geuljans gives us this explanation: “
Báou: sort of ogre to frighten children (Pézenas).
In Clermont-l'Hérault, the babáou is defined as an imaginary beast which, according to tradition, devours naughty children.
Babáou is mentioned as a Languedocian in the Trévoux dictionary of the 18th century.
It is a derivative of an onomatopoeia bàu, bai, which expresses dread, fear, with a duplication of the initial syllable which perhaps comes from childish language.
»
And this garri?
As for the garri (or gari), it is, in Provence, a game which consists, using a mirror, in reflecting the rays of the sun and directing them into someone's eyes.
To read also“Do you want a schluck?”
: what does this expression mean?
"
You are right, Master Viennot," said little Renardy, joining his laughter to mine, "I am mad."
It may be true, as M. Langlois suggests, that I lost my mind on Rue Belle-Table, but I can assure him that his horse, blinkered as he is, would have it too. lost if he had seen even the tip of the ugly nose of this bogeyman, or this garri-babou, as those kids called him who, overcoming their fear, crowded around the corners to watch for its appearance.
» (Frédéric Milan –
Les Brasiers de la plague
– 1987.)
Excerpt from
The most beautiful expressions of our regions
.
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