serpenteau

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From serpent +‎ -eau.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /sɛʁ.pɑ̃.to/
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

serpenteau m (plural serpenteaux)

  1. snakeling, snakelet (a hatchling snake)
  2. (by extension[1]) Diminutive of serpent; a small snake, little snake, snakey
  3. (military, historical) an iron circle with spikes to which squibs were attached, used in a breach

References[edit]

  1. ^ serpenteau”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.