couillon

French

Etymology

From Middle French couillon, from Old French coillon (“testicle”), from Late Latin cōleōnem, derived from Latin cōleus (“sack, bag; scrotum”). By surface analysis, couille +‎ -on. Compare Occitan colhon.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ku.jɔ̃/
Audio (file)

Noun

couillon m (plural couillons, feminine couillonne)

(vulgar) dickhead, bastard, pillock
Il t'a vraiment trompée ? J'étais sûr que c'était un couillon, ce type.
He really cheated on you? I knew that guy was a bastard.
(vulgar) coward
C'est un vrai couillon, il est pas capable d'aborder une fille.
He's a real coward, he's not capable of approaching a girl.
(card games) a Belgian card game that is also played in Limburg and on the border of Luxemburg and Germany
(Louisiana) joker, funny person; nut, nutter
(Louisiana) fool, simpleton, nitwit

Adjective

couillon (feminine couillonne, masculine plural couillons, feminine plural couillonnes)

(vulgar) fucking stupid
(Louisiana) foolish

Usage notes

As both an adjective and a noun, couillon is not as vulgar or strong in Louisiana French or even in France.

Related terms

couille

References

“couillon”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Dictionary of Louisiana French: As Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and American Indian Communities (2009; →ISBN; →ISBN)
A detailed explanation of the couillon card game family

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French coillon.

Noun

couillon m (plural couillons)

(vulgar) dickhead, bastard
- 1552, François Rabelais, Le Tiers Livre:
  Il est (dist lors frere Ian) sourd. Il n'entend ce que tu luy diz couillon.
  He is (said their brother Jan) deaf. He can't hear what you say, dickhead.

Related terms

couille

Descendants

French: couillon
→ Alemannic German: Gajung
→ German: Kujon (see there for further descendants)