Word origins

• chicotteA long knotted whip with a wooden handle, formerly used as a punishment in the Congo and Portuguese Africa.
• chiffonadeA culinary preparation of herbs or leafy vegetables cut into long, thin ribbons.
• chiffonierA tall, elegant chest of drawers, often with a mirror attached.
• chignonA roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun.
• ChildebertA male given name from Frankish, of historical usage, equivalent to English Hilbert, notably borne by various Frankish kings.
• ChildericA male given name of mainly historical use, borne by several kings of the Franks.
• ChilpericA male given name from the Germanic languages, of historical usage, notably borne by various Frankish and Burgundian kings.
• chinéMottled in appearance, from the warp being dyed in different colours, or from threads of different colours twisted together.
• chipolataA type of sausage from Europe, typically of seasoned coarsely ground pork.
• ChirolA surname from French.
• chito-Related to chitin.
• ChleuhA member of a Berber ethnic group living mainly in Morocco's Atlas Mountains and Souss Valley.
• chloruratedchlorinated
• chocolatièreA pot for chocolate.
• chocolatineSynonym of pain au chocolat.
• Choisy-le-RoiA commune in Val-de-Marne department, Île-de-France, France.
• chomageA period when a mill, factory, etc. stands still or idle.
• chômeurAn actant that has been 'demoted' to a less salient syntactic position, such as the agent of a passive clause.
• chopineA bottle of wine (usually Bordeaux) containing 0.250 fluid liters, ⅓ of the volume of a standard bottle.
• chose jugéeA point, issue etc. which has already been decided (especially legally) and is therefore not worth discussing.
• chottA dry salt lake, in the Saharan area of Africa, that stays dry in the summer but receives some water in the winter.
• choucroutesauerkraut
• chouquetteA small choux pastry made with dough sprinkled with sugar.
• christophinechayote
• chromoluminarismSynonym of divisionism.
• chromoluminaristof, pertaining to, or in the style of chromoluminarism
• chronique scandaleuseA journalistic account of a love affair, crime, or other scandalous event.
• chronologistA person skilled in chronology.
• CHSLDA long term care hospital facility
• chuchotageThe interpretation or translation of speech in a whisper to a single person or small group in proximity to others who aren't listening to the translation.
• ci-devantFormer, late.
• ciliceA garment or undergarment made of coarse cloth or animal hair worn close to the skin used by members of various Christian traditions as a self-imposed means of penance (repentance) and mortification of the flesh.
• CimiezA neighborhood of Nice, France.
• -cinbacteriocin
• cindynicsThe science of risk analysis.
• cineastAn enthusiast of film and the cinema.
• cinéma d'auteurA cinematic style that emphasizes the director's personal vision, the making of film d'auteurs.; auteurism.
• cinéma du lookA French film movement of the 1980s and 1990s, characterized by its spectacular visual style (“le look”).
• cinéma véritéA style of cinema that appears to be realistic, showing ordinary people in ordinary situations speaking and acting naturally.
• cinetizationA distorted image created by removing portions of an original image and reassembling the remainder at disjointed angles.
• CircassienneA kind of light cashmere of silk and mohair.
• ciréHaving a shiny, glossy surface, often due to the application of wax or heat treatment.
• CiretA surname from French.
• cironThe itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), which infects the skin.
• CitroënA car of the Citroën brand.
• citronadelemonade
• civilitéA typeface formerly used in parts of Western Europe which imitates cursive script.
• clafoutisA French dessert made by baking fresh fruit (traditionally cherries) with a batter.
• ClairaA female given name from Latin, a rare nonstandard spelling of Clara.
• clairaudientHaving, pertaining to, or involving clairaudience.
• clair de luneA pale bluish-gray colour.
• clairetA full-bodied and deep-coloured type of rosé wine from the Bordeaux region.
• clairvoyanteA female clairvoyant.
• claqueA group of people hired to attend a performance and to either applaud or boo.
• claqueurA member of the claque employed to applaud during a theatre performance.
• ClarissineSynonym of Poor Clare: a nun of the Order of Saint Clare, sometimes particularly one who follows or advocates the original precepts established by St Clare.
• ClavetteA surname from French.
• clechéHaving ends which flare out (like a cross patté) before tapering back to a point (urdé).
• CleenewerckA surname from French.
• clichéSomething, most often a phrase or expression, that is overused or used outside its original context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost. A trite saying; a platitude.
• cliquetAn exotic option consisting of a series of consecutive forward start options. The first is active immediately, the second becomes active when the first expires, and so on.
• clochardA beggar or tramp, especially in France.
• cloisonA partition, dividing fillet or band.
• cloqueA fabric with an embossed design
• ClouatreA surname from French.
• clouéStudded with nails (of a specified tincture).
• cluseA defile or narrow gorge, especially one that cuts transversely through the rock of an otherwise continuous ridge.
• CobeeA surname from French.
• coco-de-merA tall palm tree, Lodoicea maldivica, found in the Seychelles.
• codicologyThe study of codices (early handwritten books).
• coeur à la crèmeA heart-shaped preparation of cream cheese served with strawberries.
• cogniacCounterfeit money.
• coiffeurA male hairdresser.
• coiffeuseA female hairdresser
• -coleForms nouns (and occasionally adjectives) relating to organisms that inhabit a particular habitat.
• collapsologyThe transdisciplinary study of the collapse of industrial civilization, and what might succeed it.
• collegienneA female college student.
• collogueTo coax (someone); also, to flatter (someone).
• colmatageThe deliberate introduction of silty water over low-lying land to build it up by deposition.
• colonnetteA small, thin column, especially one used to support an arcade.
• colporteurA peddler of publications, especially of religious books
• comme ci comme çaNeither good nor bad; so so; tolerable, passable, indifferent.
• comme il fautProper; in keeping with etiquette or social standards.
• comme moiLike me.
• CommingesA former region of France.
• commissionaireOne entrusted with a (small) commission, such as an errand; especially, an attendant or subordinate employee in a public office, hotel, etc.
• communardA person who lives in a commune.
• communiquéAn official report or statement, such as a government press release or the report of a conference.
• compenseTo compensate.
• CompiègneA commune in Oise department, Hauts-de-France, France.
• complotismConspiracy theories.
• complotistA conspiracy theorist.
• compte renduA report by an officer or agent.
• comtalPertaining to a count.
• concasséFood (fish, fruit, vegetables, etc) that has been coarsely chopped or cut into large pieces.
• concheSynonym of concher (“machine used to refine the flavour and texture of chocolate”).
• conclavistThe personal aide of a cardinal at a papal conclave.
• conferencierA person who organizes a conference, or is a leading member of one
• confiseurA French confectioner.
• confreriebrotherhood, association