释义 |
marche-donc, n. Canad. (chiefly in French-speaking Canada). Brit. |ˈmɑːʃdɒŋk|, U.S. |ˈmɑrʃˌdɔŋk|, |ˈmɑrʃˌdɑŋk|, Canad. |ˈmɑrʃˌdɒŋk| [‹ French marche donc, command to horses to walk on (18th cent. or earlier) > v.2) + donc, lit. ‘then, therefore’, used as intensifying particle (980 in Old French as dunc) ‹ post-classical Latin dunc (recorded in undated inscriptions of the imperial period; either a blend of classical Latin dum, intensifying particle, and tunc then, or perhaps ‹ classical Latin dōnique, extended form of dōnec while, until).] †1. A caleche, a cart. Obs.
1799I. Weld Trav. N. Amer. (1800) xxviii. 248 From the frequent use made by the drivers of these words, the calashes have received a nick-name of ‘marche-doncs’. 1847G. W. Featherstonhaugh Canoe Voy. Minnay Sotor I. xii. 102 At the door of the church I found several charettes, or little waggons,..each of them drawn by one horse, and all without seats. In some of them half-a-dozen respectably dressed females squatted themselves down with their children, a male in front driving the marche donc. 2. A driver of a caleche or cart. Now rare.
1845F. Tolfrey Sportsman in Canada II. 133 Marche donc is a sobriquet bestowed on all Habitans from their vehement and invariable ejaculation of the words when applied to their ponies as an incentive to increased speed. 1850J. J. Bigsby Shoe & Canoe I. 173 And the narrow Norman carts of the ‘marche-doncs’, as their drivers are nicknamed, from their perpetual use of that ‘cry’ to their cattle. 1916O. D. Skelton Railway Builders 20 [The] driver, or marche-donc, usually exceeded this rate. |