bigot

bigot
bigot (n.) 1590s, "sanctimonious person, religious hypocrite," from Fr. bigot (12c.), of unknown origin. Earliest French use of the word is as the name of a people apparently in southern Gaul, which led to the now-doubtful, on phonetic grounds, theory that the word comes from Visigothus. The typical use in Old French seems to have been as a derogatory nickname for Normans, the old theory (not universally accepted) being that it springs from their frequent use of the Germanic oath bi God. But OED dismisses in a three-exclamation-mark fury one fanciful version of the "by god" theory as "absurdly incongruous with facts." At the end, not much is left standing except Spanish bigote "mustache," which also has been proposed but not explained, and the chief virtue of which as a source seems to be there is no evidence for or against it.
In support of the "by God" theory, as a surname Bigott, Bygott are attested in Normandy and in England from the 11c., and French name etymology sources (e.g. Dauzat) explain it as a derogatory name applied by the French to the Normans and representing "by god." The English were known as goddamns 200 years later in Joan of Arc's France, and during World War I Americans serving in France were said to be known as les sommobiches (see also SON OF A BITCH (Cf. son of a bitch)). But the sense development in bigot is difficult to explain. According to Donkin, the modern use first appears in French 16c. This and the earliest English sense, "religious hypocrite," especially a female one, might have been influenced by BEGUINE (Cf. beguine) and the words that cluster around it. Sense extended 1680s to other than religious opinions.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • bigot — bigot …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • bigot — bigot, ote [ bigo, ɔt ] adj. et n. • XVe ; surnom des Normands 1155; a. angl. bî god (by god) « par Dieu » 1 ♦ Qui manifeste une dévotion outrée et étroite. ⇒ bondieusard, calotin, cul bénit, dévot. Un homme hypocrite et bigot. ⇒vieilli cafard,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • bigot — bigot, ote 1. (bi go, go t ; le t se lie : un bigot insensé, dites : un bi go t insensé ; au pluriel l s se lie : des bigots insensés, dites : des bi go zinsensés ; bigots rime avec repos, dos, faux, travaux, etc.) adj. 1°   Qui est livré à une… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • bigot — BIGÓT, Ă, bigoţi, te, adj., s.m. şi f. (Persoană) care urmează cu mare severitate toate preceptele rituale ale unei religii; (om) habotnic; bisericos. – Din fr. bigot. Trimis de paula, 10.09.2008. Sursa: DEX 98  BIGÓT adj., s. (bis.) fanatic,… …   Dicționar Român

  • Bigot — ist der Name folgender Personen: Christophe Bigot (* 1965), französischer Diplomat Eugène Bigot (1888–1965), französischer Komponist, Dirigent und Musiklehrer Georges Bigot (1860–1927), französischer Karikaturist und Illustrator Jules Bigot… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • bigot — BIGOT, OTE. adj. Dévot outré et superstitieux. Il est bigot. Elle est bigote. Airs bigots. Manières bigotes. [b]f♛/b] Il est aussi substantif. Faire le bigot. C est un vrai bigot. Un franc bigot. Une vieille bigote …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • bigot — BIGOT. [big]ote. adj. Hypocrite, faux devot. Homme bigot. femme bigote. Il est plus souvent subst. Faire le bigot. c est un vray bigot, un franc bigot. Il se prend aussi quelquefois pour, Superstitieux. Les scrupules des bigots font tort à la… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Bigot — Big ot, n. [F. bigot a bigot or hypocrite, a name once given to the Normans in France. Of unknown origin; possibly akin to Sp. bigote a whisker; hombre de bigote a man of spirit and vigor; cf. It. s bigottire to terrify, to appall. Wedgwood and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bigot — Big ot, a. Bigoted. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] In a country more bigot than ours. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bigot — noun die hard, doctrinaire, dogmatic theorist, dogmatist, dogmatizer, energumen, extremist, fanatic, illiberal, infatuate, intolerant, ipse dixit, know all, know it all, monomaniac, opinionated person, opinionist, persecutor, ranter, redneck,… …   Law dictionary

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