The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (17 page)

charade (sham d, sharahd) FRENCH
[riddle, from Provencal charrado chat,
entertainment] noun an absurd pretense, a farce, a pointless or empty
act: "What charade Colonel Dent and
his party played, what word they chose,
how they acquitted themselves, I no longer
remember..." (Charlotte Bronte, Jane
Eyre, 1847). Can also refer to a parlor game in which the players try to
guess a solution from clues acted out
in mime.

charge d'affaires (shahrzhay dafair)
FRENCH [one charged with affairs]
noun (plural charges d'affaires) a
diplomatic rank below that of ambassador (especially one who assumes the
duties of an ambassador or minister
when the latter is absent): "Matters
were left in the hands of a charge d'affaires
until a new ambassador was appointed."
abbreviated form charge.

charisma (k2rizm3) GREEK [from
kharisma favor, from kharis grace] noun
(plural charismas or charismata,
karizmata) personal charm, magne

tism, star appeal, personal aura: "He is
the only presidential candidate with any
personal charisma at all."

charivari (shivaree, shivaree), shivaree FRENCH [possibly from Latin
caribaria headache] noun a raucous
mock serenade or cacophony (originally raised by the local populace,
using pots, pans, and other noise makers to express disapproval of a marriage): "Wants to know if they can't be
run in for this awful crime. It seems they
made a dreadful charivari at the village
boundary, threw a quantity of spell-bearing objects over the border, a buffalo's
skull and other things ..." (Rudyard
Kipling, "The Enlightenments of Pagett, M.P.").

charlotte (shahrlat) FRENCH [possibly
after the girls' name Charlotte] noun
a dessert dish comprising layers of
stewed fruit and custard or other
filling layered with breadcrumbs,
sponge cake, or biscuits: "... apple
charlotte."

chasse (shas4), sashay FRENCH
[chased, from chasser to chase] noun a
dance step in which one foot slides
into the place of the other. -verb to
perform such a step.

chasseur (shaser) FRENCH [hunter,
from chasser to chase] noun a hunter;
can also refer to a light cavalryman
(especially in the French army): "After
passing a chasseur regiment and in the lines of the Kiev grenadiers fine fellows
busy with similar peaceful affairs near
the shelter of the regimental commander,
higher than and derent from the others, Prince Andrew came out in front of a
platoon of grenadiers before whom lay a
naked man" (Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace,
1863-69).

chassis (chasee, shasee) FRENCH [from
chassis, ultimately from Latin capsa
case] noun (plural chassis) the basic
frame of a motor vehicle, aircraft,
or other machine, around which the
body is constructed: "The factory makes
the basic chassis for the new car, but the
body is built elsewhere."

chateau (shato), chateau FRENCH
[mansion, from Latin castellum castle]
noun (plural chateaus or chateaux)
a French castle, mansion, or country house; can also refer to a winegrowing estate.

chatelaine (shatala)ln) FRENCH [from
chatelaine, feminine of chatelain castellan, ultimately from Latin castellanus
occupant of a castle] noun the lady of
the manor, the mistress of a chateau or
of some other large household or establishment. Can also refer to a clasp worn
at the waist to which may be attached
keys, a purse, a watch, and other items:
`Daisy found it impossible to keep her eyes
off her `pitty aunty,' but attached herself like
a lap dog to the wonderful chatelaine full
of delightful charms" (Louisa May Alcott,
Little Women, 1868-9).

chaud-froid (shofrwah) FRENCH [hotcold: the hot cooked meat is allowed
to become cold before it is served]
noun a dish of cold meat in an aspic
sauce.

chauffeur (shofar, shofer) FRENCH
[stoker, from chauffer to heat] noun a
person who is employed to drive a
private motor vehicle: "Rumors began
to circulate about her friendship with the
chauffeur." verb to work as the driver
of a motor vehicle.

chef (shef) FRENCH [head, abbreviated from chef de cuisine head of the
kitchen] noun a cook in a restaurant
or hotel: "The hotel has advertised for a
new chef. "

chef d'oeuvre (shay dervra, shay
derv), chef-d'oeuvre FRENCH [leading work] noun phrase (plural chefs
d'oeuvre) a masterpiece (especially
in the arts): "Critics consider this work to
be his chef d'oeuvre."

chemin de fer (shaman(g) da fair)
FRENCH [railroad] noun phrase (plural
chemis de fer a variety of baccarat
(card game).

chemise (shameez) FRENCH [shirt,
from Latin camisia shirt] noun a
loose-fitting one-piece undergarment
or dress for women: A chemise buttoned upon the right shoulder, and passing
loosely over the breast and back and under
the left arm, but half concealed her person above the waist, while it left the arms
entirely nude" (Lew Wallace, Ben Hur,
1880).

chenille (shineel) FRENCH [hairy caterpillar, ultimately from Latin canis dog]
noun a fabric or yarn with a velvety
pile used in embroidery, etc.: "She had
the mark of a scald on her bosom, which a
scanty piece of blue chenille did not entirely
cover, this scar sometimes drew my attention,
though not absolutely on its own account"
(Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Confessions,
178289) .

cheongsam (chongsam) CHINESE
[from Mandarin changshan long gown]
noun an oriental-style dress with a
slit skirt and high neck.

cherchez la femme (shairshay la Lam)
FRENCH [find the woman] interjection
look for the woman (in the belief
that where there is trouble a woman
is generally found to be at the bottom of it), find the underlying cause:
"The journalist winked at him knowingly.
`Cherchez la femme,' he whispered, wagging
his forefinger."

Cherie (share) FRENCH [dear] noun
darling: "I love every minute I spend with
you, ma Cherie."

cherub (cherub) HEBREW [from kerubh
supernatural being] noun (plural cherubs, cherubim, cherabim) an angel
of a type usually depicted as a small,
rather plump, winged child; by exten

Sion, any child with an angelic disposition or appearance: "Winged figures
representing cherubim were located above the
ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place"
(M. Selman, M. Manser, Macmillan Dictionary of the Bible, 1998).

the sara, sara (kay Sarah Sarah) ITALIAN
[what will be will be] interjection what
will happen will happen regardless of
what anyone does: "The old man threw
up his hands in a gesture of resignation:
`che sara, sara."'

chevalier (shavalir) FRENCH [horseman, ultimately from Latin caballus
horse] noun a cavalier or knight and,
by extension, any honorable or chivalrous man: Among certain grizzled seagossips of the gun decks and forecastle went
a rumor perdue that the Master-at-arms
was a chevalier who had volunteered into
the King's Navy by way of compounding
for some mysterious swindle whereof he had
been arraigned at the King's Bench" (Herman Melville, Billy Budd, 1924).

chevron (shevron) FRENCH [rafter,
probably from Latin caprio rafter]
noun a V-shaped figure or pattern
(as used in heraldry, badges of military
rank, or signposts): "Bad bends on the
road are clearly marked by large chevron
signs."

chez (shay) FRENCH [from Latin casa
cottage] preposition at the house of,
at the home of: "Come and dine chez
moi tonight."

chi (ki), ch'i, qi CHINESE [qi breath
or energy] noun (in Eastern medicine and Eastern philosophy) the life
force believed to circulate around the
body and to be the basis of physical
and spiritual well-being.

chiaroscuro (keeahraskooro) ITALIAN
[bright dark, from chiaro clear and
oscuro obscure] noun the interplay
of light and shade (as in paintings).
adjective of or relating to the interplay of light and shade: "Not that Mr.
Wakem had not other sons besides Philip,
but towards them he held only a chiaroscuro parentage, and provided for them
in a grade of life duly beneath his own"
(George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss,
1860).

chiasmus (kiazmas, keeazmas) GREEK
[chiasmos, from chiazein to place crosswise, to mark with a chi] noun (plural
chiasmi, kiazmi, keeazmi) a figure
of speech in which two grammatical
elements in a pair of parallel phrases or
clauses are reversed, as in He went to
London, to Los Angeles went she."

chic (sheek) FRENCH [style, probably
from German Schick skill] noun stylishness, elegance, vogue. adjective
stylish, fashionable, in vogue, elegant,
smart: "The new mall features chic boutiques and restaurants."

chicane (shika I) FRENCH [subterfuge,
deception, from chicaner to quibble]
noun a sharp double-bend on a

motor-racing track: "Several cars came
off the track at the frist chicane."

Chicano (chikahno, shikahno) SPANISH
[from mexicano Mexican] noun an
American of Mexican origin, especially a male. -adjective of or relating to Chicanos, Mexican American.
-noun, feminine chicana (chikahna,
shikanna) an American girl or woman
of Mexican origin.

chichi (sheeshee, cheechee) FRENCH
[pretentiousness] noun affected
manners, preciosity, fussiness. -adjective precious, pretentious, fussy, afftected: "She moved into a chichi little
apartment on the edge of town."

chiffon (shifon, shifon) FRENCH [rag,
from chffe old rag] noun a soft sheer
fabric of silk, nylon, rayon, or similar
material. -adjective of or relating to
such fabric: "He was confronted by three
small girls in yellow ch)on dresses."

chignon (sheenyon) FRENCH [from
Middle French chaignon chain, nape,
from Latin catena chain] noun a knot
or coil of hair worn by women at the
nape of the neck: "The form of her head
was so good that she could dare to carry
it without a chignon, or any adventitious
adjuncts from an artistes shop" (Anthony
Trollope, The Eustace Diamonds, 1873).

chi kung See QIGONG.

chile See CHILI.

chile con carne See CHILI CON CARNE.

chili (chilee), chile, chilli SPANISH [from chile, from Nahuatl chilli]
noun hot pepper made from the pod
of the pepper Capsicum annuum (var.
longum), or a meat or vegetable dish
prepared with hot peppers or hot pepper sauce.

chili con carne (chilee kon kahnee),
chilli con carne, chile con carne
SPANISH [chili with meat] noun phrase
a Mexican stew of ground beef and
usually beans, prepared with chopped
chili peppers.

chilli See CHILI.

chilli con carne See CHILI CON
CARNE.

chimera (kimeera, kameera), chimaera GREEK [chimaira she-goat, monster] noun an illusion, a phantasm, a
wild fancy, an imaginary creature or
monster or a creature made up of several different species: "In the middle of
these cogitations, apprehensions, and reflections, it came into my thoughts one day that
all this might be a mere chimera of my min,
and that this foot might be the print of my
own foot, when I came on shore from my
boat..." (Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe,
1719-20).

chinoiserie (sheenwahzree, sheenwahzdree, sheenwahzaree) FRENCH
[from chinois Chinese] noun a style

in the decorative arts and furniture
imitative of Chinese designs: "A fad for
chinoiserie pervaded all branches of decorative art in England in the wake of expanded
trade contacts with the Far East."

chinook (shanook) SALISHAN [from
c'inuk] noun a warm, moist wind
that blows from the ocean onto the
northwest coast of the United States;
also a warm, dry wind that blows
down the eastern side of the Rocky
Mountains.

chinos (cheenoz) SPANISH [from chino
toasted] plural noun trousers of cotton twill cloth: "He selected a white shirt
and a pair of chinos from the pile of clothes
on the bed."

chintz (chints) HINDI [from chit] noun
(plural chintzes) a printed calico
(originally of Indian origin) or glazed
cotton fabric: "The gentle breeze stirred
the yellow chintz curtains."

chipolata (chipalahta) FRENCH [from
Italian cipollata dish of onions] noun
a small sausage.

Chi-Rho (lei-ro, kee-ro) GREEK [from
the Greek letters chi and ro] noun
(plural Chi-Rhos) monogram representing the name of Christ (after the
first two letters of the name).

chop suey (chop SOOCC) CHINESE
[from Cantonese tsaap sui mixed bits]
noun phrase (plural chop sueys) (in Chinese cuisine) a dish of rice mixed
with meat, fish, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, onions,
mushrooms, and soy sauce.

chorizo (chflreezo, chareeso) SPANISH
noun a highly seasoned pork sausage.

chose (shot) FRENCH [thing] noun
(in law) an item of personal property.

chow mein (chow ma)Lii) CHINESE
[from chao mian fried noodles] noun
phrase (in Chinese cuisine) a dish of
fried noodles mixed with meat, mushrooms, and vegetables.

chrysalis (krisalis) LATIN [from Greek
chrysallis] noun (plural chrysalises or
chrysalides, krisalideez) the pupa of
a moth or butterfly; also the hard case
that encloses the pupa: "The caterpillar
becomes a chrysalis before emerging as an
adult moth."

chuddar See CHADOR.

chutney (chatnee) HINDI [from chatni]
noun a savory sauce or relish containing fruits, vinegar, sugar, and spices:
"They served chicken curry with rice and
mango chutney."

chutzpah (hatspa, katspa), chutzpa
YIDDISH [from Hebrew huspah] noun
self-confidence, audacity, effrontery,
gall: "The child even had the chutzpah
to volunteer to go to the police station
himself. "

ciabatta (chabata) ITALIAN [slipper]
noun a type of unleavened Italian
white bread made with wheat flour,
yeast, and olive oil, and baked in a
long, broad, flattish loaf: "We had minestrone for lunch, with hot ciabatta."

ciao (chow) ITALIAN [I am your slave,
from Latin sclavus slave] interjection
good-bye, farewell, greetings, hello:
"`Ciao, my friends, I will be back in the
morning,' he called over his shoulder."

ciborium (siboreeam) LATIN [drinking cup] noun (plural ciboria, siboreea) (in Christianity) a receptacle
with an arched cover used to hold the
consecrated wafers of the Eucharist;
(in architecture) a canopy over the
high altar in a church, normally consisting of a dome supported on four
columns.