marteau

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English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

marteau (plural marteaux)

  1. A postiche curl.
    • 1886 April 1, “Fashionable Coiffures, and the Care of the Hair”, in Myra's threepenny (mid-monthly) journal (and childrens bazaar)., page 120:
      A wreath of wild roses, without foliage, crosses the top of the head in front and under the roll of the first marteau;
    • 1891, R. Barry Blackburn, Art, Society, and Accomplishments, page 162:
      An easy mode of dressing the hair for powder is to part it across the head from ear to ear, turning the front over a high cusion, making the back into a long, loose chignon, with a few marteaux or rolled curls behind the cushion. Sometimes the roll in front is replaced by a series of marteaux placed diagonally .
    • 2003, Penny Delamar, The Complete Make-up Artist, page 163:
      Swathes: Made from two marteaux, sewn end to end. They are used for encircling the head.
    • 2012, Patricia Baker, Wigs and Make-up for Theatre, TV and Film, page 211:
      Long hanging ringlets were popular and were made using switches, pin curls and marteaux (postiche hair pieces).

French

Alternative forms

Etymology

Back-formation from Old French marteaus, plural of martel, from Late Latin martellus, from martulus, variant form of marculus, diminutive of Latin marcus, or from malleus.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /maʁ.to/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

marteau m (plural marteaux)

  1. a hammer used for pounding
  2. a machine tool that pounds
  3. a hammer-shaped tool used to hit something, such as a gavel
  4. a rapper; a door knocker
  5. (music) a piano or dulcimer hammer
  6. (anatomy) the malleus
  7. (athletics) a throwing hammer
  8. (technical) a hammer with bas relief marks used to create imprints on wood, leather etc.
  9. (curling) the advantage of throwing the last stone
  10. (clockmaking) the part of a clock that strikes the bell

Hyponyms

Tool for pounding or striking

Derived terms

Derived terms
Related terms

Adjective

marteau (plural marteaux)

  1. (dated, informal) crazy; deranged

Further reading

Anagrams

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