Crapaud
Crapaud is a French word meaning toad in English language.[1]
Heraldry
Crapaud is sometimes used as an incorrect reference to the Fleur-de-lys on the ancient heraldic flag of the Kings of France. The three Fleur-de-lys were sometimes misinterpreted as "three toads erect, saltant", instead of "three lily flowers".[2]
Fictional character
The word crapaud is used extensively by Richard Sharpe,[3] the fictional character depicted in Bernard Cornwell's novels set during the Napoleonic wars.
Jean Crapaud
Jean Crapaud, also Johnny Crappeau or Johhny Crappo, defined by Webster's Online Dictionary, "is a jocose name given to a Frenchman. It is intended as a national personification of the French people as a whole in much the same sense as John Bull is to the English. It is sometimes used as a literary device to refer to a typical Frenchman, usually in the form of Monsieur Jean Crapaud."[4] The usage of the word "crapaud" in this case is considered to be a slur and derogative.[1]
Gallery
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La Femme aux crapauds par Paul Berthon
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Le tentateur (he holds the apple of temptation, his back is eaten by toads and reptiles) and the foolish virgins (they keep the lights returned, squeeze closed the tables of the law).
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Blason Pharamon: Sable three golden toads.
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Armes du Prince Gwenael Louis Garaud
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Cartoon showing France in the guise of Johnny Crapeau
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Crapaud. Wiktionary
- ↑ Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (2001). The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. pp. 438–439. ISBN 1840223103. "Fleur-de-lis, -lys, or -luce (Fr. lily-flower). The name of several varieties of iris, and also of the heractic lily, which is here shown and which was borne as a charge on the old French royal coat-of-arms. In the reign of Louis VII (1137-80) the national standard was thickly charged with flowers. In 1365 the number was reduced by Charles VI to three (the mystical church number). Guillim, in his Display of Heraldrie, 1611, says the device is "Three toads erect, saltant"."
- ↑ Ellen J. Millington. Heraldry in history, poetry, and romance. Chapman and Hall; 1858 [cited 27 September 2012]. p. 8–.
- ↑ Jean Crapaud. Webster's Online Dictionary. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
Further reading
- James Edwards (Professor.). John Bull, Uncle Sam and Johnny Crapaud. Henry G. Little; 1888.
- James Edwards. John Bull, Uncle Sam and Johnny Crapaud. BiblioBazaar; February 2010. ISBN 978-1-144-02435-0.
Children's book
- Mary Alice Fontenot. Clovis Crawfish and the Curious Crapaud. Pelican Publishing; 1 November 1986. ISBN 978-0-88289-610-6.
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