marmite

common nounverb

Syllable Decomposition

marmite

Substantivation of the Old French 'marmite' (hypocrite) attested in 1223. A compound word of 'mite' ('cat' see 'chattemite') and the onomatopoeic element 'marm-', which gives 'marmonner', 'marmotter', 'marmot', 'marmouset'. The shift in meaning is explained by the fact that the marmite, deep and closed by a lid, hides its contents from the curious, unlike the pan, which is flat and open. Compare with the German 'Topfgucker', the French 'fouillaupot' ('curious').

Definitions

argot militaire

Plural

marmites

Translations

  • englishenglish:cooking-pot
  • spanishspanish:olla
  • dutchdutch:soepketel

See also

marmite (v.) marmiteux (adj.) marmites (v.)