English
le sigh
Le sigh comes from French le ‘the’.
- Frenchc. 1600–presentle‘the’
- Englishearliest quotation 2000le sigh
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Frenchc. 1600–presentle‘the’
- Englishearliest quotation 2000le sigh
Earliest quotation: 2000, Austin Creations, What if?: “I would also fly business class instead of in…”
The story
Used by Pepé Le Pew, stereotypically French skunk character in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons; combination of French le (‘the’) and English sigh.
Linked words
through French le ‘the’
Today it means
intj A sigh of longing or disappointment.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / French le / le sigh