"pigeon" -- French slang

[Laurence Horn]

On May 1, 2013, at 9:55 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:

> 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

And remember that in France pigeons are much more likely to end up eaten.

LH
>
> 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
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org