bécane

French

Etymology

Uncertain, suggested to be from the argot word bécant, ultimately from bec, the implication being that the squeaking of an old bicycle resembles the chirping of a bird.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /be.kan/

• Audio:

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• Audio (France (Vosges)):

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Noun

bécane f (plural bécanes) (colloquial)

1. (cycling) bike, bicycle

   Synonyms: vélo, bicyclette

   • 1918, Marcel Proust, À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs [In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower] (À la recherche du temps perdu)‎^[1]:

     « […] Nous y sommes allés par le tram et je comprends que ça ne vous amuse pas de prendre un tacot pareil! nous avons mis deux heures! J'aurais fait trois fois l'aller et retour avec ma bécane.»

     " […] We went there by tram and I understand why one cannot enjoy taking such a slow line! It took us two hours! In that time, I could have gone and come back three times with my bicycle."

   • 2024, Ploum, Bikepunk […] , PVH éditions, →ISBN, page 14:

     La jeune fille ne répondit pas et le duo mal assorti poursuivit sa route en silence, marchant chacun à côté de sa bécane.

     The young girl didn't reply and the odd couple continued their way in silence, each walking next to their bike.

2. motorbike
3. (computing) 'puter, computer

   Synonym: ordi

Derived terms

• rangé des bécanes
• se ranger des bécanes

Further reading

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