English
chauvinism
Chauvinism comes from French chauvinisme ‘idealistic devotion to Napoleon’.
- Frenchc. 1600–presentchauvinisme‘idealistic devotion to Napoleon’
- Englishearliest quotation 1952chauvinism
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Frenchc. 1600–presentchauvinisme‘idealistic devotion to Napoleon’
- Englishearliest quotation 1952chauvinism
Earliest quotation: 1952, Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man: “This is an outrageous example of unconscious racial chauvinism!”…”
The story
The figure of Chauvin became especially famous as a character in the play La Cocarde Tricolore by the Cogniard brothers.
Every English word from French chauvinisme
Today it means
noun Excessive patriotism, eagerness for national superiority; jingoism.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / French chauvinisme / chauvinism