tâta-cul de polaille

from the Savoyard 'tâta' derived from the verb 'tâter' (to feel) and 'polaille' which refers to 'poulet' (chicken), 'volaille' (poultry). This expression relates to people who make a fuss by feeling the chicken's rear to know when the egg will come, in order to retrieve it. It may also refer to the buyers and sellers of poultry in the past who would discuss at length the qualities of laying hens and feel their hindquarters to appreciate them.