escamoter

Probably from an old form of Occitan escamotar, from escamar, from Latin squāma (“scale ”). Compare Italian squamare (“to scale”). Alternatively from Spanish escamotar, from Latin excommutare.

• IPA^(key): /ɛs.ka.mɔ.te/

• Audio:

  (file)

escamoter

1. (transitive) to conjure away, to make disappear
2. (by extension, transitive) to snatch, to nick

   Synonym: piquer

   • 1750, Louis-Charles Fougeret de Monbron, Le Cosmopolite, ou Le Citoyen du monde, London, published 1760, page 54:

     Ce petit accident, joint à la perte d’environ quarante sequins que m’avoit escamoté cet aimable compagnon de débauche, rompit tout-à-coup la douce harmonie de nos cœurs ; & notre désunion fut aussi prompte, que notre liaison l’avoit été.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

3. (transitive) to evade, dodge; to skip (a word, question, etc.)

   Synonym: esquiver

4. (transitive) to retract (landing gear)

• escamotage
• escamoteur

• “escamoter”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.