khâgneux

allusion to the physical constitution of students absorbed by intellectual tasks or derived from the Old French cagne, which meant 'bitch' but also 'laziness', hence cagneux to ironically designate very hardworking students? or because, unlike students in preparatory classes for military schools, they were not required to have a good physical constitution? in the second half of the 19th century, the word cagneux was used to mock academics, tutors, normaliens passionate about classical studies, always immersed in their books. This stems from the fact that in the old military service, conscripts with knock-knees were discharged and destined for bureaucracy, hence, by extension, for letters. The convoluted and falsely erudite spelling khâgneux is in the same prankish spirit, but cagneux is also found.