couillette

couillette

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French couillette.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ku.jɛt/

Noun

couillette f (plural couillettes)

1. (archaic) little testicle
2. (informal) dispenser cap
3. (colloquial) mistake, error

---

Middle French

Etymology

couille +‎ -ette (“little testicle”).

Noun

couillette f (plural couillettes)

1. (vulgar, vocative) an insult, similar to couillon
   • 1552, Rabelais, Le Tiers Livre

     Escoute ça, couillette. Vids-tu oncques le froc du moine de Castres?

     • Listen, dickhead. Do you see the gown of the monk from Castres?

2. (vulgar, vocative) in the following example, seems to be an affectionate if vulgar nickname
   • 1552, Rabelais, Le Tiers Livre

     Ie le veulx (respondit frere Ian) bien voluntiers, pour l’amour de toy couillette. Car ie t’ayme du bon du foye.

     Yes, I want to, (replied friar Jan), willingly, for my love of you my little testicle. For I love you from the bottom of my liver.

Usage notes

• In the Middle French period, only used in the works of Rabelais. Has been used occasionally in the modern French period.