"pigeon" -- French slang

[Benjamin Barrett]

Although the two words are used the same, it doesn't work without the explanation. Is that because the term is a little obscure in English?

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

On May 1, 2013, at 5:49 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at ATT.NET> wrote:

> According to Elaine Ganley and Sylvie Corbet,
> writing for the Associated Press and as published
> April 30 in the Boston Globe, article titled
> "France cuts tax to boost start-ups" --
>
> The Socialist president has been viewed by some
> as an antibusiness leader and infuriated
> entrepreneurs last year by proposing increased
> taxes on investments. In response, entrepreneurs,
> calling themselves ‘‘pigeons’’ — French slang for
> someone who has been duped — launched an online
> opposition campaign that quickly got tens of
> thousands of ‘‘likes’’ on Facebook and trended on Twitter.
> http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/04/29/france-cuts-taxes-boost-entrepreneurs/Nr09jKCHZCZDpgpCEcMO4L/story.html
>
> And I thought it was English, and had centuries
> ago migrated from "slang" to colloquial".  Is partridge wrong?
>
> Joel
>
> P.S.  Yes I know the word is the same in French
> as in English -- it just struck me funny that an
> article in English is explaining to American readers that a pigeon is a dupe.
>
> JSB

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