| 释义 |
Tonton Macoute|tɔ̃tɔ̃ mæˈkuːt|
Also Ton Ton Macoute and with lower-case initials.
[a. Haitian French, of uncertain origin.]
a. A militia which was formed by President Duvalier in Haiti and became notorious for its brutal and arbitrary behaviour; also, a member of this. Also ellipt. as Tonton.
1962S. E. Finer Man on Horseback ix. 133 Duvalier took office in October 1957... Instead of relying upon the Garde Nationale, he has built himself up a 5,000 strong counterforce of palace guards, civilian militia, and civilian hoodlums called ‘tonton macoute’. 1965J. E. Fagg Cuba, Haiti & Dominican Republic 136 A gang of ruffians known as Tonton Macoute murdered or beat citizens who complained. 1966G. Greene Comedians i. i. 16 The Tontons Macoute... The President's bogey men. They wear dark glasses and they call on their victims after dark. Ibid. ii. 47 He was believed by some to have connections with the Tontons. Ibid., He exchanged some words with a Tonton Macoute at the door. 1972Times 23 Nov. 10/8 Mr Luckner Cambronne, former Haitian Minister of Defence and of the Interior, who organized the dreaded Ton Ton Macoutes, has sought asylum in the Colombian Embassy in Port-au-Prince. 1976Globe & Mail (Toronto) 5 Nov. 7/2 Rather than fire his father's tontons, (and risk sending a bunch of disgruntled triggermen underground) the young President found them jobs in public institutions such as hospitals. 1981Plate & Darvi Secret Police ii. 47 There is no agreement among scholars of Haiti about what ‘Tonton Macoutes’ means. Some claim the name refers to a primitive bad figure in Haitian voodoo culture who takes you away when you misbehave.
b. fig.
1970‘D. Craig’ Young Men may Die xi. 83 Our two people..have on Tonton Macoute sunglasses. 1973Publishers Weekly 8 Jan. 34/1 ‘Veronica Ganz’, the one-girl ton ton macoute. |