beau monde
boh-MOANED´ (French, ‘beautiful world’) The beau monde is the world of high society and fashion. Members of the beau monde meet the requirements for membership in the carriage trade (they’re […]
Foreign Origins
porte-cochère
PORT´-coh-SHAIR´ (French for ‘coach door’) A porte-cochère is an entrance, wide enough to accommodate cars and carriages, that leads from the street—through a wall or building—to a courtyard. True portes-cochères […]
nouvelle cuisine
(French, ‘new cooking’) Nouvelle cuisine is a late 1960s reaction to the perceived excesses of cuisine classique. Nouvelle cuisine, as a healthier version of French haute cuisine, shuns butter and […]
cuisine classique
kwee-ZEEN´ claw-SEEK´ Cuisine classique is the classic branch of French haute cuisine. Known for its heavy use of cream and butter, it was developed over centuries in royal and aristocratic […]
haute cuisine
oat´ kwee-ZEEN´ (French for ‘high cooking’) Haute cuisine is cooking at a high level. The term is most often applied to French cooking, but it can also refer to any […]
prêt-à-porter
pwhay´-tap-oh-TAY´ (French, ‘ready to wear’) Prêt-à-porter is clothing purchased off the rack, as opposed to custom-made haute couture items. While most prêt-à-porter is moderately priced and sold in malls and […]
étagère
ay-tah-ZHAIR´ An étagère is a piece of furniture consisting of a number of open shelves. Etagères are used to display small precious objects such as ceramics, curios, and other objets […]
boiserie
BWAHZ´-ree (French for ‘wood paneling’ in general) When used in English, the term usually refers to the various styles of elaborate paneling used to adorn the 17th- and 18th-century palaces […]
gauche
gōsh (French, ‘left,’ as in left-handed, or clumsy) A gauche person lacks grace, social experience, and tact. He or she may also be crude, awkward, and uncomfortable in social situations. […]