ballon d'essai
English
Etymology
Borrowed from French ballon d’essai.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌbalɒ̃ dɛˈseɪ/
Noun
ballon d'essai (plural ballons d'essai)
- A policy put forward to test reactions; something designed to test the waters, an experimental measure. [from 19th c.]
- 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 193:
- James II may even have planned the reintroduction of the ceremony, for in his reign the old order of service was resurrected and issued in print, as a ballon d'essai, though the Revolution prevented matters being taken any further.
- 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 193:
French
Pronunciation
Noun
ballon d’essai m (plural ballons d’essai)
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from French
- English terms derived from French
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English multiword terms
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French lemmas
- French nouns
- French countable nouns
- French multiword terms
- French masculine nouns