échafaud

French

Etymology

Alteration of Old French chafaud, from Late Latin *catafalicum, from Ancient Greek κατά- (katá-) + Latin fala (“tower”). Doublet of catafalque.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e.ʃa.fo/

• Audio

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Noun

échafaud m (plural échafauds)

1. scaffold (elevated platform on which a criminal is executed)
   • 1829, Victor Hugo, Le Dernier Jour d’un condamné:

     Quand ma tête aura été coupée, qu’est-ce que cela me fait qu’on en coupe d’autres ? Est-ce que vraiment j’ai pu penser ces folies ? Jeter bas l’échafaud après que j’y aurai monté !

     When my head has been cut off, what do I care if others' are cut off? Could I really think such crazy thoughts? Throw down the scaffold after I'd got up!

Derived terms

• échafauder
  • échafaudage

Further reading

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