Apr 6, 2021 11:13
3 yrs ago
52 viewers *
French term
calotin
French to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
"calotin" is a pejorative term for a clergy member, a reference to the skullcap worn, if I'm not mistaken.
I'm looking for a similar flavored archaic/dated term in English to refer to a man of the cloth, specifically a Roman Catholic bishop.
I'm looking for a similar flavored archaic/dated term in English to refer to a man of the cloth, specifically a Roman Catholic bishop.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +3 | shaveling |
Danielle Dupuis
|
| 4 | Devot, ecclesiastic |
AcornTr_US
|
| 3 | Holy Joe |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
|
| 4 -1 | Bible-basher |
Lucy Teasdale
|
| 3 | papist bishop |
Conor McAuley
|
| 2 -1 | charlatan/quack bishop |
SafeTex
|
Proposed translations
+3
20 hrs
Danielle Dupuis
Canada
Canada
Native in French
&
English
Specializes in field
Canada
Lit., history, psychology, etc.
Native in: English 
, French
Works in: English to French, French to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
shaveling
shaveling might do the trick for you. it's an archaic pejorative term that refers to clergymen referring to the way they shaved their heads from roughly the 7th Century to 1972. Both are old disparaging terms for clergymen related to their heads.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Daryo
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Mpoma
: Ooh, so nice I have to "agree" ... but according to my ordinary dictionary, "calotin" still has a modern usage, specifically meaning someone who flaunts their piousness... unfortunately "shaveling" isn't modern English (though it should be of course)
8 hrs
|
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: best of offerings here. More context would be good though
3 days 5 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
7 mins
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
Holy Joe
https://en.bab.la/dictionary/french-english/calotin
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Note added at 8 mins (2021-04-06 11:22:30 GMT)
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https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Holy Joe
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Note added at 14 mins (2021-04-06 11:28:12 GMT)
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"sanctimonious", "accursed priest" are two other, less contemporary options
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Note added at 37 mins (2021-04-06 11:51:18 GMT)
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or "churchy bishop": https://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/calotin
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Note added at 55 mins (2021-04-06 12:08:33 GMT)
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"holy joe" first came into use around 1874: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Holy Joe
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Note added at 8 mins (2021-04-06 11:22:30 GMT)
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https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Holy Joe
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2021-04-06 11:28:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"sanctimonious", "accursed priest" are two other, less contemporary options
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2021-04-06 11:51:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or "churchy bishop": https://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/calotin
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 55 mins (2021-04-06 12:08:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"holy joe" first came into use around 1874: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Holy Joe
-1
2 hrs
Lucy Teasdale
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Accurate French to English translations.
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: French to English
Bible-basher
This is a nice descriptive term for people who ‘go on’ about religion or try to convert you.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Yes, but more likely / often applied to non-conformist denominations; less applicable perhaps to an RC Bishops and, I suspect, rather too modern.
17 hrs
|
| disagree |
Daryo
: not all "bible-bashers" are members of the clergy // some "lay" members are more Catholic than the Pope
20 hrs
|
-1
5 hrs
charlatan/quack bishop
Hello
The word you are looking for may quite simply not exist
I did look at "Episcopus vagans" but I don't think it's quite what you want
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopus_vagans#Use_as_cultur...
So I'm suggesting "charlatan" or "quack" and I checked the etymology of both terms, and "quack" seems to go back further to around the time you want i.e 14th century
I've nothing against the other suggestions except that I don't associate "bible-basher" or "Holy Joe" with Catholic bishops in the Middle Ages but more with preachers in the US in the 20th century
Otherwise, you could be inventive and say something like "the bigots with a mitre and crozier"
Or play around with the Latin above and try combinations with "Episcopus" like "Incert" (vague) or "ineffigiatus" (amorphous)
The word you are looking for may quite simply not exist
I did look at "Episcopus vagans" but I don't think it's quite what you want
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopus_vagans#Use_as_cultur...
So I'm suggesting "charlatan" or "quack" and I checked the etymology of both terms, and "quack" seems to go back further to around the time you want i.e 14th century
I've nothing against the other suggestions except that I don't associate "bible-basher" or "Holy Joe" with Catholic bishops in the Middle Ages but more with preachers in the US in the 20th century
Otherwise, you could be inventive and say something like "the bigots with a mitre and crozier"
Or play around with the Latin above and try combinations with "Episcopus" like "Incert" (vague) or "ineffigiatus" (amorphous)
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: Both 'charlatan' and 'quack' suggest in some way 'fake' or 'dishonest', neither of which seems appropriate to the context as explained here.
13 hrs
|
1 day 1 hr
Conor McAuley
France
France
Native in English
France
Excellence, Expertise & Experience
Native in: English (Variants: Wales / Welsh, UK, Scottish, Irish, British)
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
30
papist bishop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popery
"According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word Papist was first used in 1522."
taig bishop
dogan bishop
It all depends, of course, whether the insult is intended to be sectarian, whether it is aimed at the bishop personally, or whether it is aimed at the clergy/religiousness in general.
NOTE: Highly offensive terms.
"According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word Papist was first used in 1522."
taig bishop
dogan bishop
It all depends, of course, whether the insult is intended to be sectarian, whether it is aimed at the bishop personally, or whether it is aimed at the clergy/religiousness in general.
NOTE: Highly offensive terms.
3 days 8 hrs
AcornTr_US
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Translating blogs,articles,tech,books
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: French to English, English to French
Devot, ecclesiastic
Here is a French Wikionary entry I've found for the term:
https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/calotin#Français
I looked up ecclesiastic and devot in Collins Fr>En dictionary and both match your context;links are in the Web References tab.
I did a slightly religious text as part of a French Literature class in college.
https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/calotin#Français
I looked up ecclesiastic and devot in Collins Fr>En dictionary and both match your context;links are in the Web References tab.
I did a slightly religious text as part of a French Literature class in college.
Discussion
More context: the setting is revolutionary France, and the insult arises during an argument between an atheist nobleman and a bishop. The nobleman insults the bishop, calling him a "calotin":
"Cela suffit, foutu calotin ! Il ne te suffit donc pas de servir au peuple les fables absurdes qui le condamnent à l'ignorance, il faut encore que tu cajoles un bourreau?"
I'm wary of Holy Joe and bible-bashing or thumping, as those are a little too modern for the context. Papist has about the right level of vitriol, but introduces a sectarian aspect I don't think is present in this specific situation.
I like the idea of "shaveling", or something along the lines of "sanctimonious bigot", "accursed ecclesiastic"... someone also mentioned the miter, which I like since it's also a reference to headgear... a "mitre-clad zealot" or something along those lines.
calotin, calottin
Apprenez à prononcer
nom et adjectif
1.
FAMILIER ET PÉJORATIF
Ecclésiastique ; personne qui défend le clergé.
Synonymes :
clérical
2.
adjectif
Relatif au clergé, aux dévots.
Un air calotin.
Définitions proposées par les Dictionnaires Le Robert
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