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Chenu (French)

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Hoary, grey-headed. This word is much used in Paris to signify good, delicate, exquisite in flavour, delicious, de bon goût. It was originally applied to wine which is improved by age. Thus we hear commonly in Paris the expression, “Voilà du vin qui est bien chenu” (mellow with age). Sometimes gris (grey with age) is substituted, as, “Nous en boirons tant de ce bon vin gris” (Le Tresor des Chansons Nouvelles, p. 78). The word, however, is by no means limited to wine, but is applied to well-nigh everything worthy of commendation. We even hear Chenu Reluit, good morning; and Chenu sorgue, good night. “Reluit,” of course, means “sunshine,” and “sorgue” is an old French word for evening or brown. “Chenument” = à merveille.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Cheese
Cheese
Cheeseparer (A)
Cheeseparing Economy
Cheese-Toaster (A)
Cheesewring (Lynton, Devon)
Chef dŒuvre
Chemistry [kemistry]
Chemos or Chemosh [Keemosh]
Chennappa
Chenu (French)
Chequers
Cheronean [ch = k]
Cherry
Cherry Fairs
Cherry Trees and the Cuckoo
Cherubims
Chery and Fair-Star
Cheshire
Chess
Chesterfield

See Also:

Chenu