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gaudine

English translation: wood, copse, thicket

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:gaudine
English translation:wood, copse, thicket
Entered by: fionn

14:50 Jan 17, 2013
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / 12th century
French term or phrase: gaudine
Marie de France, Bisclavret:
«dame, jeo devienc besclavret:
en cele grant forest me met,
al plus espés de la gaudine,
s'i vif de preie e de ravine.»

I become a werewolf and go into the thickest part of the forest.

Has anyone any idea of the etymology of this word?

The nearest I can find is "gaude" (yielding a yellow dye, probably "weld" in English)
but that seems unlikely to me!

TIA.
DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 16:17
wood, copse
Explanation:
Not sure of the connection with 'gaudy' as in joyful (gaudeamus) but a 'gaudin' is a brigand found in a wood and a 'gaudine' is the wood itself. Perhaps from idea of the 'free-spirited' highwayman? Anyway, usage seems clear in the context of the poem.
Selected response from:

fionn
Germany
Local time: 17:17
Grading comment
Thanks Fionn. First and perfectly correct.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3wood, copse
fionn
3grove
GaelleDC
3estate
kashew


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
wood, copse


Explanation:
Not sure of the connection with 'gaudy' as in joyful (gaudeamus) but a 'gaudin' is a brigand found in a wood and a 'gaudine' is the wood itself. Perhaps from idea of the 'free-spirited' highwayman? Anyway, usage seems clear in the context of the poem.


    Reference: http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Lexique_de_l%E2%80%99ancien_fr...
fionn
Germany
Local time: 17:17
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks Fionn. First and perfectly correct.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
grove


Explanation:
Hello, I just found the word in an old French dictionary, maybe it could be of some interest for you.
Good luck.


    Reference: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TsD281UZGhwC&pg=PA656&lpg...
GaelleDC
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:17
Native speaker of: French
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Gaelle. Yes, that's a useful dictionary - much appreciated.

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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
estate


Explanation:
or domain; much more than a garden.
See http://singulier.info/son/son-07.html

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2013-01-17 16:15:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

line 4 and note

kashew
France
Local time: 17:17
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks kashew. That was very useful - I've added "demesne" as a note to my doc.

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