Dictionary of Louisiana Creole

The contents of this website remain the intellectual property of the following authors: Albert Valdman, Thomas A. Klingler, Margaret M. Marshall, Kevin J. Rottet

• Warning: There has been no censoring of the data, including offensive language or racial slurs.
• Orthography: Entries use the modern Kouri-Vini Orthography; however, the examples retain their original orthography based on Haitian Creole from the book. There are also several examples written in a French Orthography; these have also been left as is in the book. Additionally, the acute (à) and circumflex (â) when used for stress, preterit, or disambiguation, have not been included separately (i.e., aren't used).
• There are several variants for certain sounds that have not been included in the variants for entries. Please use the variants in quotations in place of the others when searching for words with the following sounds:
  • use "s" for /s/ ← s, ç
  • use "è" for /æ/ ← æ, è
  • use "i" for /ɪ/ ← ì, i
  • use "an" for /ã/ ← an, am, en, em
  • use "on" for /ɔ̃/ ← on, om
  • use "in" for /ɛ̃/ ← in, im
• Parts of Speech abbreviation correspondences:
  • adj. = Adjective
  • adv. = Adverb
  • adv.phr. = Adverbial Phrase
  • art.def. = Definite Article
  • art.indef. = Indefinite Article
  • conj. = Conjunction
  • dem. = Demonstrative
  • det. = Determiner
  • det.poss. = Possessive Determiner
  • f. = Feminine
  • int. = Interjection
  • interr.phr. = Interrogative Phrase
  • m. = Masculine
  • n. = Noun
  • n.phr. = Noun Phrase
  • num.card. = Cardinal Number
  • num.ord. = Ordinal Number
  • onom. = Onomatopoeia
  • pl. = Plural
  • place n. = Place Name
  • prep. = Preposition
  • pron. = Pronoun
  • pron.indef. = Indefinite Pronoun
  • pron.refl. = Reflexive Pronoun
  • pron.rel. = Relative Pronoun
  • prop.n. = Proper Noun
  • ptcl. = Preverbal Particle
  • sg. = Singular
  • v. = Verb
  • v.aux. = Auxiliary Verb
  • v.cop. = Copular Verb
  • v.intr. = Intransitive Verb
  • v.mod. = Modal Verb
  • v.phr. = Verb Phrase
  • v.refl. = Reflexive Verb
  • v.tr. = Transitive Verb
• Sources abbreviation correspondences (post-1960):
  • gen = (BT + CA + NE + PC + ST)
  • AN = Ancelet 1994
  • BT = Bayou Teche, field data
  • CA = Côte des Allemands, field data
  • DC = Clifton 1980
  • DT 77 = Tentchoff 1977
  • GY = Guidry, Richard
  • HW = Hebert Wiltz
  • MO 60 = Morgan 1960
  • MO 69 = Morgan 1969
  • MO 72 = Morgan 1972
  • NE = Neumann 1985
  • PC = Pointe Coupee, field data
  • ST = Saint Tammany, field data
  Sources abbreviation correspondences (pre-1960):
  • BD = Broussard 1942
  • BI = Bienvenu 1933
  • BO = Bourgeois 1927
  • DU = Durand 1930
  • FO T# = Fortier 1895
  • FO 1887 = Fortier 1887
  • GC1 = Cable 1886a
  • GC2 = Cable 1886b
  • JR = Jarreau 1931
  • KB = Krehbiel 1962
  • LA = Lavergne 1930
  • ME = Mercier 1881
  • ME 90 = Mercier 1890
  • ME 91 = Mercier 1891
  • PE = Perret 1933
  • T# = Neumann 1987 Text # (T12–T17 are satirized Creole, use with caution)
  • TM = Marie Augustin
  • TN = Tinker 1935
  • TP = Trappey 1916
  • WO = Marguerite Wogan

Website created by William S. Morales.

5139 entries found

• bourjwa No sources ( n. )
  1. Bourgeois; bourgeois.
     ♦Quand mo rivé en haut laplace mo rencontré quatre bourgeois qui mandé moin ou té mo passe. When I arrived at the public square I met up with three bourgeois who asked me where my permit was. (T39) See examples
• bourlé CA ( n. )
  1. Roll (of bread); bourrelet, petit pain.
• bourlé No sources ( v.tr. )
  1. To torment, torture; bourreler.
     ♦ Ein souar patrouil té trapé moué hé ki té bourlé moué ein bourlé ki té pa pou zoué, mo zami, mo di toué. The patrol caught me and tortured me with a torture that wasn’t just for kicks, my friend, let me tell you. (T12) REM: Meaning unclear; NE p.99 note 4 suggests ‘bourreler’. See examples
• bouro CA ( n. )
  1. Executioner, hangman; bourreau.
     Se en bouro ki ap pann li e ki ap koupe kòrd-la. That’s the executioner who’s hanging him and who’s cutting the rope. (CA) ♦ Cila qui trouvé gagnin pou marié avec mo fille, mais cila qui séyé troi fois, si li pas trouvé, mo bourreau gagnin pou coupé so cou. The one who finds it (the answer to the riddle) gets to marry my daughter, but the one who tries three times and doesn’t find it, my executioner will cut off his head. (FO T18) See examples
• bourwèt PC, ST ( n. ) birwèt PC bourwè PC
  1. Wheelbarrow; brouette.
     To kapab ale latè, to ka ale kayou, to ka ale plen kichòz ndan l, dan en birwèt. You can transport dirt, you can transport stones, you can transport a lot of things in a wheelbarrow. (PC) ♦ Tigue dit chien volé li, et li taché li, li metté li dans ein brouette et li parti pou vende li. The Tiger said the dog stole him, tied him up, put him in a wheelbarrow and went off to sell him. (FO T12) See examples
• bouré PC ( n. )
  1. Bourré (a card game); bourré (un jeu de cartes).
     Mo jwe kat en ti pe yè apre-midi. Nou jwe le boure. I played cards yesterday afternoon. We played bourré. (PC); Et si l'olé d'être le roi de les clochards passer so temps à jouer bourré en derrière le LUMBERYARD, ça c'tété so I'affaire. And if he wanted to be the king of the hobos, and spend his time playing bourré behind the lumberyard, that was his business. (DC) See examples
• bouré BT, CA, PC ( v.tr., v.refl., v.intr. ) bour CA
  1. To stuff; bourrer.
     Prande en e chochon, epi la, ti boure ye avèk le lenj, e pi ti mare ye. Se enn bonn plòt. Take a sock, and stuff it with cloth, and then tie it. That makes a good ball. (BT); M ap boure mo kana pou THANKSGIVING. Mo mèt diri e jwa e jijie pou fe en far. I’m stuffing my duck for Thanksgiving. I put rice, liver and gizzards to make a stuffing. (CA) •chèj boure n.phr. Stuffed chair; chaise rembourrée, cf. chèjTo stuff oneself, eat gluttonously; bâfrer, se bourrer, se gaver. Si te e monje to boure tro t a CHOKE. If you’re eating and you stuff yourself too much you’ll choke. (PC) See examples
• boush BT, NE, PC ( n. ) laboush CA, PC
  1. Mouth; bouche.
     So labouch te e tounen kote , to pa ka kòmprann sa li di. His mouth was twisted on one side, you couldn’t understand what he was saying. (PC); L ap boure so labouch e l ap ouvèr li gran kòm mo pa konen ki. He’s stuffing his mouth and he’s opening it big like I don’t know what. (CA) ♦Yé té senti bon et Jean Sotte gardé yé longtemps; so labouche t'apé baver. They smelled good and Foolish John looked at them for a long while; his mouth was watering. (BD) •gen en bouch sal v.phr. (BT). To have a dirty mouth; parler grossièrement, dire des saletés. To gen en bouch sal, kon le vyeu di 'va a la mèd ' kon tu di kèk-chonj ke pa bon. You have a dirty mouth, (like) when old folks say ‘Go to hell’, [or] when you say something that isn’t good. (BT) •gen labouch dou v.phr. (CA). 1) To be a sweet talker, have a silver tongue; avoir la langue dorée. Li gen labouch dou. Nom-la va parmi fom-ye parle so labouch dou. He’s a sweet talker. The man goes up to women and sweet talks them. (CA) ♦Konpè Lapen genyen la bouch si telmon dou ke pèsonn pa kapab refize li aryen. Brer Rabbit was such a sweet talker that no one could refuse him anything. (BO) 2) To have a sweet tooth; aimer les douceurs, aimer les sucreries. Li lenm manje dou. Li gen la bouch dou. She likes sweet things. She has a sweet tooth. (CA) See examples
• boushon PC ( n. )
  1. Cork; bouchon.
     Mo wa djòg-la. Te gen en bouchon e ki rant anndan ladjeyl-la. I saw the jug. It was plugged with a cork in its mouth. (PC) ♦Yé mette ein bouchon pou fermin trou là. They closed the opening with a cork. (FO 1887) See examples
  2. Float, bobber (for fishing); bouchon (pour la pêche).
     Mo mèt en lafisèl an la avè en lanmson e en bouchon. I put a piece of string on it with a hook and a bobber. (PC) • bouchon koton n.phr. Cottonball; un coton. ♦Met en gout fyèl barbi si en bouchon koton e bouch orey-la avek sa. Put a drop of catfish gall on a cottonball and plug the ear with that. (BI) See examples
  3. Mattress plug; bouchon d’un matelas.
     No te triye nou lamous, e SPREAD to kouti patè e la to mèt to lamous anwo la, e la to pran to lòt bout, la kouvèti kouti, to mèt li ON TOP, e to kourd li tour-tour. E la to mèt en bouchon an-o la. We I used to sort our moss, and spread your ticking on the ground and then you put your moss on top of that, and then you take the other end, the ticking cover, you put it on top, and you sew all around. Then you put a plug of cloth in it. (PC) See examples
• boushri NE, PC ( n. ) laboushri CA
  1. Boucherie (communal hog roast); ‘boucherie’ (abattement d’un cochon à partager par les membres de la communauté).
     Fe de bouchri. Fromaj, la tèt fromaj, la pans-la, plen sa ave le trip-ye, to kone, sezannen sa byen fe graton, le zandouy. (We) used to have hog butcherings, we made head cheese, we used the pig’s stomach, (we) filled its intestines, you know, we seasoned all of that and made crackling and sausage. (PC); Mo frè tchwe en kochon somdi. Ye fe landoui, bouden. Tou sa se sa ye pèl labouchri. My brother killed a pig Saturday. They made andouille, sausage. All that is what they call a «boucherie». (CA) ♦Tan li rivé dans so cabanne, tou zafair té paré ou bouceri. When he arrived at home, everything was ready for the ‘boucherie’. (T6) See examples
  2. Pork; pore.
     Li manje tèlman labouchri li trape latchirit. He ate so much pork, he got diarrhea. (CA) See examples
• boushé BT, NE ( n. )
  1. Butcher; boucher.
     Mo te gen en nonk ki te bouche . I had an uncle who was a butcher. (BT); Mo mejœr bouche dan vilaj. I am the best butcher in town. (ST) See examples
• boushé CA ( v.tr. )
  1. To plug, cork; boucher.
     Mo bouche mo boutey diven pa pou li vini hèg. I corked my bottle of wine so it wouldn’t turn sour. (CA) ♦ Et avec ein morceau laplanche li bouché trou là. And with a piece of plank he plugged the hole. (T40) See examples
  2. To clog, block; boucher. (CA)
• boushé PC ( n. )
  1. Mouthful, bite of food; bouchée.
• bouskilé No sources ( v.tr. ) baskilé CA
  1. To shove around; bousculer.
     To pouse en moun tou partou. T ap baskile li. You push a person all around. You’re shoving him. (CA); Kofè t ap baskile li? To va fe li mal o to va jte li. A fòrs t ap baskile li, li va tonbe. Why are you shoving him around? You’re going to hurt him or you’re going to knock him over. Because you’re shoving him, he’s going to fall. (CA) See examples
  2. To scold; gronder.
  3. To wrinkle; froisser.
• bout CA, MO 60, NE, PC, ST ( n. ) bou MO 60, PC
  1. End (of an object, of a time period); bout (d’un objet, d’une période de temps).
     Chalon i f e koum sa, e bout isi pwenti. A flat-bottom boat is made like this, and this end is pointed. (PC); Sa se en bout a lakord-la. Atrape lòt bout e to mèt de bout ansanm. This is one end of the rope. Grab the other end and you put two ends together. (CA) ♦ Li prann en lag id, mare li dan kou a nelefan, trèvèrse bayou-la avek lòt bout e mare li dan kou a lours. He took a rope, tied it to the elephant’s neck, crossed the bayou with the other end and tied it to the bear’s neck. (JR) •bout a bout adv.phr. (CA; PC); bout pou bout (PC). End to end; bout a bout. To me de bout-ye ansanm, sa se bout a bout. You put the two ends together, that’s end to end. (CA) •o bout prep.phr. (NE; PC); o bou d (MO 60). At the end (of a field, a period of time, etc.); au bout (d’un champ, d’un espace de temps, etc.). O bout lanen t a peye, ka t a fini rantre to rekòt. At the end of the year you’ll pay when you have finished bringing in your harvest. (PC); Li dòrmi o bout chiko-la. He fell asleep at the foot of the tree stump. (NE); O bou d karant an. At the end of forty years. (MO 60) ♦ Au boute pont la, coté yé, li fait ein grand parc. At the end of the bridge he made a big park. (FO T15) See examples
  2. Bit, ways (of distance or time); un bon bout (de temps ou de distance).
     Mo marche en boud pou soti, mo tournen bèk. I took a few steps to go out, but I turned back. (PC); Sa se la fen bout chmen-la. That is the end of this stretch of road. (CA) ♦ Kon li kouri ti bout-la li tonmbe onkor. When he had ridden that short distance he fell off again. (LA) •en bon bout n.phr. (NE); an ban bout, ben bout, en ban ti bout (PC). A good bit (of time, of distance), a good while, a good ways; un bon bout (de temps, de distance). Mo pa wa Fred ena en ban bout. I haven’t seen Fred for a long time. (PC) ♦Yavé déja ein bon boute yé té dans place la, yé té tranquille et content et yé té cré yé tout seul. They had already been in that place for a good while, they were calm and they thought they were alone. (FO T15) •en bout tan n.phr. (PC); en bout ton (NE); en bou d tan (MO 60); en bou tan (CA); en bou d ton (PC). A while; un bout de temps. Li te konnen reste dan magazen-la pou en bout tan. Deu trwa mwa li reste dan magazen kote Fred la. He was living for a while in the store. Two or three months he lived in Fred’s store. (PC) •gran bout n.phr. (PC). A long time; un bon bout de temps, longtemps. Nou et la pou en gran bout. We’ve been here for a long time. (PC) See examples
  3. Bit, piece; morceau, bout.
     Brèchtein, se en bou d chenn ki apre lanng konm sa. A breast chain is a piece of chain about so long. (PC) ♦ Li taché patte desrat-la à soquenne lapatte. Li servit ein boutte desliane pou ça. He tied the rat’s paws to his own paws. He used a piece of vine for that. (BD) •bout lenj n.phr. Rag; chiffon, haillon, cf. lenj See examples
  4. Place; endroit.
     On bout ao mon mo te res, ennave trwa koulè mba mon. In the place where I was raised, there were three black people living below me. (PC); Mwa mo fou pa mal, parske apre nou te vini gron, le nèg va don en bout, le Blon te kouri don en bòr. It makes no difference to me, because after we’ve grown up, blacks go one way and whites go the other. (NE) See examples
• boutaj PC ( n. ) laboutaj PC
  1. Headland at end of row; chaintre, tournière.
     Tourne a la boutaj. To turn [the plow] around at the headland. (PC) See examples
• boutannyè CA ( n. ) boutonyè PC boutannyé PC
  1. Buttonhole; boutonnière.
     To mèt bouton andan boutannyè. You put the button in the buttonhole. (CA); Sa se en bouton sa. La to gen met en boutonyè anndan la, sa pèl an kreyòl en boutonyè, sen en trou pou to met bouton-la anndan lan pou li kroche. This is a button. You have to put a buttonhole in there, in Creole it’s called a buttonhole, it’s a hole for you to put the button in so that it holds. (PC) See examples
• boutik PC ( n. )
  1. Store, shop; boutique, magasin.
     Madanm-la travay, ye gen trwa boutik-ye. The woman works, they’ve got three stores. (PC) ♦ Pove vieux Michié Zipiter li perdi tout so pratique pasqué pape ordonnin tout moune quitté li et li té bligé fermé so boutique. Poor Mr. Jupiter lost all of his customers because the pope ordered everyone to stop going to him, and he was forced to close his shop. (FO T15); ‘boutic' (T12; T31); ‘boutik' (T17) See examples
• boutlég PC ( n. )
  1. Bootlegging; contrebande de l’alcool, bootlegging.
     Ye fè èlèksyon pou vote, pou ote wiski. Efam-ye bat nonm-ye. Ye chmen pou ote wiski. Se sa ki fe ye te e fe boutleg. They organized a poil, to vote to get rid of whiskey. And the women beat the men. They won to get rid of whiskey. That’s what got them started bootlegging. (PC) See examples
• bouton CA, PC ( n. ) boutan PC
  1. Button; bouton.
     To koup en ti trou. To kapab mèt de bouton. To pas andan li pou fermen to chimij. You cut a little hole, and you can put on buttons. You pass the button through to close the shirt. (CA) See examples
  2. Button (to activate a machine); bouton (pour faire démarrer une machine).
     I te gen vyè lasikleri lantan pase, tou kicho sèt ave lamen, mè la astèr se pouse bouton-l. They used to have old-fashioned refineries, everything was by hand, but now you just push a button. (PC) See examples
  3. Bump; bosse.
     Li gen en bouton on so latet. He has a bump on his head. (PC) •ti bouton n.phr. (PC). Rash, bumps on the skin (in this case, caused by poison ivy); éruption, bosses sur la peau (en l’occurrence, provoqué par le sumac vénéneux). Enen en lèb, ye pel sa lèb a la pis, si li frape on twa, li mèt en lo ti bouton on twa, sa demonj twa. There’s a weed, they call it poison ivy. If it gets on you it gives you a rash, it makes you itch. (PC) •bouton lafyèv n.phr. (CA). Fever blister, cold sore; herpès. Bouton lafyèv, to gen ye an to babin o an to ne. Fever blisters, you get them on your lips or on your nose. (CA) See examples
  4. Pimple; bouton, acné.
     Li gen de bouton on sa figur. He has pimples on his face. (PC); To bòs en bouton natir anlèr to lafigir. You break open a pimple on your face. (CA) •bouton natir n.phr. (CA). Pimple; bouton (sur la peau). See examples
  5. Bud; bourgeon.
     Li gen de bouton. Flè-le e f e bouton. It has buds. The flower produces buds. (PC) ♦Pou moun ki potrinè bouyi bouton kopal e pi fe en siro avek sa. For those who have tuberculosis, boil some sweet gum buds, and make a syrup out of that. (LA) See examples
• boutonnin CA ( v.tr. )
  1. To button; boutonner.
     La boutonyè-la, to gen p fen en trou pou li kouri anndan lan pou li boutonnen. The buttonhole, you have to make a hole for it to go into for it to button. (CA) See examples
• boutèy PC ( n. ) boutéy PC, CA
  1. Bottle; bouteille.
     Ye te pa gen la limyè. Ye te fe la limyè avèk en boutey. Mèt en RAG avèk kolòy dan en boutey, e mèt l an en poto, enn la, enn la, enn la, sa se klere ase. They had no lights. They would make lights with a bottle, put a rag with kerosene in a bottle and put it on a post, one there, one there, and one there. That made enough light. (PC); To gen pou debouche la boutey diven pou lese li soufle. You have to uncork the bottle of wine to let it breathe. (CA) ♦ Compair Tigue couri charché ein bouteil bon tafia, et yé boa yé santé. Brer Tiger went to get a bottle of good rum, and they drank to their health. (T8); ' bouteille' (T30); 'labouteill' (T33) See examples
  2. Baby bottle; biberon.
     Dòn piti-la so boutey. Give the baby its bottle. (PC) See examples
• bouté No sources ( v.intr. ) bout PC
  1. To reach, arrive at (a place); atteindre, arriver à (un endroit).
     Ka mo va travay se kòm si m e bout andan mo-kèn lamezon. When I go to work it’s as if I’m arriving at my own home. (PC) ♦ Trozième zalon bouté, Compair Torti touzou tink à tink avè Compair Chivreil. Having arrived at the third goal, Brer Tortoise was still neck and neck with Brer Deer. (T5) See examples
• bouyi BT, CA, MO 60, PC, ST ( v., v.intr., v.tr. ) bouy CA, PC bwi CA, PC boui PC
  1. To boil; bouillir.
     Dezœf-la gen boui pou senk minit. The egg has to boil for five minutes. (PC); Lavyann fe lekum vini anho kan lasoup bouyi. The meat makes foam come to the top when the soup boils. (ST) ♦Bouki mené di fé en bas so l'équipage et fait bouilli dolo ladans pendant eine haire. Bouki put a fire under his kettle and boiled the water for an hour. (FO T8)To boil; faire bouillir. En ponm deu tèr bouyi. A boiled potato. (BT); Mo pran betrav-ye, mo bouyi ye, mo koup ye. I take the beets, I boil them, I cut them. (CA) ♦ Ye boui dolo-la jiska li te bouyonnen. They boiled the water until it was seething. (JR) See examples
• bouyon No sources ( adj. )
  1. Boiling; bouillant.
     ♦ [Pou] la fyèv, fe bouyi de flè labsent, la mete sa don en bake. Gen li cho bouyon. For fever, boil some absinth flowers, then put them in a bucket. Get it boiling hot. (BI) See examples
• bouyon CA, PC ( n. ) bwiyon PC bwiyan PC bwiouyon PC
  1. Broth; bouillon.
     Vou pron pwasan si vou ole fe en bwiyon. You get some fish if you want to make a broth. (PC); To fe to bouyon e zòs e dolo. Ena tou kalite bouyon: bouyon bèf, poul, pwason. You make broth with bones and water. There are all kinds of broth: beef, chicken, fish broth. (CA) •bwiyon blan n.phr. (PC); bwiyon blon (PC). 1) Broth; bouillon. Vou mèt vou dolo, vou mèt vou disel, e vou lès li bwi la, o vou fou pwason-ye andan l e pa met aryen andan lan, pase disel. La vou gen en bwiyan blan. You put in your water, and your salt, and you let it boil, or you put your fish in it and don’t add anything except salt. Then you’ve got a white broth. (PC) 2) A kind of medicinal plant; une espèce de plante médicinale. Bwiyan blan, sa se gro lefey epe ye. I kone fe la tizann e sa. [bwiyan blan], that’s (a plant with) big thick leaves. They used to make an herbal tea out of that. (PC) See examples
  2. Court-bouillon; court-bouillon.
     Sardin, to te fe en bon bouyon e sardin. To wa astè ye pel sa en kourbouyon, men dan tan-sa-l, en kreyòl se pel li en bouyon. Sardines, you made a good soup with sardines. You see now they call that a ‘court-bouillon’, but in those days a Creole would call it a ‘bouillon.’ (PC) See examples
• bouyonnin No sources ( v.intr. ) bouyònin CA
  1. To bubble, seethe; bouillonner.
     Mo frikase poul ap bouyònen. L ap gate. Li hèg. My chicken fricassee is bubbling. It’s spoiled, it’s sour. (CA) ♦ Ye boui dolo-la jiska li te bouyonnen. They boiled the water until it was seething. (JR) See examples
• bouziyaj CA ( n. )
  1. Mud-walling (mixture of mud and Spanish moss used in the construction of walls); bousillage (mélange de boue et de mousse espagnole utilisée dans la construction des murs).
     To pran la mous e la bou e to mèt sa ant de poto. Ye pèl sa bouziyaj. You take Spanish moss and mud and put them together between posts. They call that ‘mudwalling.’ (CA) See examples
• bouziyé PC ( v.tr. ) bouzouyé PC
  1. To coat a wall with mud; bousiller, construire un mur en bousillage.
     Se ka t e bouziye en fwayè, fe li vanyanr pa kite la brik-la montre. That’s when you apply a mud coat to a fireplace, to make it pretty, so the bricks don’t show. (PC) See examples
• boyo CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Intestines, entrails, bowels; intestins, boyaux.
     Se sa en karankro fe. Li blije pase dan so gogo pou ale kote so boyo. That’s what a buzzard does. He has to go in his rump to get to his intestines. (CA); En betay gen en boyo osi, en? To ka manje boyo osi. An animal has intestines too, eh? You can eat intestines. (PC) ♦ Ti garçon la, yé pélé Walta toujou gaignin boyo vide. The little boy they call Walter always has an empty stomach. (WO) •boyo gra n.phr. Large intestine; gros intestin. ♦ Li ote so de zye e la apre sa li ote boyo gra la. [The crow] tore out his two eyes and then he removed his intestines. (LA) See examples
• bra CA, NE, PC ( n. )
  1. Arm; bras.
     Mo te ap menen mo ti bebe an mo bra. I was carrying my baby in my arms. (CA) ♦ Ti mait dit moin: fourré to bras et trapé li. The little master told me, ‘Stick in your arm and catch him.’(T23); ‘bras’ (T30) •bra-an-bra n.phr. (CA). Arm in arm; bras a bras. Ti boug-la e ti fiy te ap marche bra-en-bra. The boy and the girl were walking arm in arm. (CA) •on bra-kò adv.phr. Having one’s arms wrapped around s.o.’s waist; a bras-le-corps. ♦ Sa fe mwen en ta di byen lòt jou kon mo tonnde monmzel sali sèmonte twa on piti Favè ye. Men magre sa, ape tou, prenmye nouvel mo gen, to laba on bra-kò ek ye. It did me a lot of good the other day to hear Miss Sally lecturing you about the little Favet girls. But in spite of that, the first thing I hear, you’re down there with your arms around them. (DU) See examples
  2. Handle; manche.
     Chwini, sa monte on de bra, kòm en djounya. A small harrow is raised up on two handles, like a ‘Junior’. (PC); bra birwèt. Wheelbarrow handle; brancard de brouette. (CA) •bra chari n.phr. (PC). Plow handle; manche de charrue. Met vou dan de bra chari-ye dèryè-la. To get between the two arms of the plow back there. (PC) •bra fizi n.phr. (PC). Butt (of a rifle); cross (de fusil). Li gen en ti bout on bout brafizi-la. E la li gen sa to pel en kano. There is a little piece on the end of the rifle butt. And it has what you call a barrel. (PC) See examples
• bra-nu BT ( adj. ) bra-ni BT
  1. Sleeveless; sans manches.
     Lèr-lœ tro frèt pou twa dèt bra-ni. The air is too chilly for you to be sleeveless. (BT) See examples
• brada No sources ( n. )
  1. Monk, brother; moine, frère.
     ♦ Tou souit mo oua ein Brada vini di mouen Bon Djié Mèrikien pa oulé yé fé misick zou Saba. Right away a monk (brother) came to tell me that the American God doesn’t want music to be played on the Sabbath day. (T 14); (T13; T16) See examples
• brak PC, ST ( adj. )
  1. Crazy; fou.
     Li te brak. He was crazy. (ST) ♦ Mo regardé ou li té pointé, mais mon ouar a rien. Li té braque! I looked where he was pointing, but I didn’t see anything. He was crazy! (T37) See examples
• braké No sources ( n. )
  1. To aim, point at; braquer, viser.
     ♦ Zié tou moune té braqué en ho li. Everyone’s eyes were fixed upon her. (FO 1887) See examples
• brankar PC ( n. ) branka CA
  1. One-horse buggy; voiture, boghei à un cheval. (PC)
  2. Shaft, tongue (of a wagon or carriage); flèche, brancard (d’un chariot ou d’une charrette).
     Mo mèt mo chval ant de branka-ye. Mwa mo leve en e twa to va leve lòt. I put my horse between the shafts. I’ll lift one and you get the other. (CA) See examples
  3. Stretcher; brancard, civière.
     ♦ Mèsi Bon Djé ye pa mene twa on en bronka ek to de zye ye ape ponn e en zorey tou koupe, se tou, mèsi Bon Djé. Thank God they didn’t take you out on a stretcher with your two eyes hanging out and one ear cut off, thank God. (DU) See examples
• branlba No sources ( n. )
  1. Commotion, bustle; branle-bas.
     ♦ Yé fé branle-bas dans lichiri là. They made quite a commotion in all their debauchery. (T 10) See examples
• bransh CA, MO 60, PC ( n. )
  1. Branch; branche, rameau.
     Dibwa-sa-la gen en lo branch. That tree has a lot of branches. (PC); Li garde zozo-la dan so branch-ye ichka so zèl li te pouse. It kept the bird in its branches until its wing had grown back. (CA) ♦ Quand branche la balancé ça idé piti zozos la chanté, comme hamac idé ein homme chanté. When the branch swings that helps little birds to sing, as a hammock helps a man to sing. (FO T20); ‘branche’ (T27; T37; FO T19) See examples
• branshaj CA ( n. )
  1. Kindling, little branches; bois d’allumage, petit bois, petites branches.
     Ye koupe dibwa-la e se tou de branchaj ena la e ye lese ye la. They cut wood there, and the place is covered with little branches, and they left them there. (CA) ♦ Compair Bouki couri dan diboi ramassé ein gro ta branchaille sec li limé difé. Brer Bouki went into the woods to gather a big pile of dry branches and he lit a fire. (T2) See examples
• branshi No sources ( adj., n.phr. ) kana branshi No sources
  1. Wood duck; canard des bois, canard branchu. (Aix sponsa). cf. kanar
• braslé CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Bracelet; bracelet.
     Kan mo pòrt brasle an kwiv, sa èd en pe avèk maladi ARTHRITIS. When I wear a copper bracelet it helps a little with arthritis. (CA) See examples
• brasyèr BT, CA, PC ( n. ) brasyè CA, PC brazyèr PC brajil PC braji PC brajyé PC brazil PC
  1. Bra; soutien-gorge.
     En kòchaj-dedsu se en brasyèr. A brassiere, that’s a bra. (BT); To pèl sa en brasyè, pou tchombo to teton. You call that a bra, to hold your breasts. (PC); Mo mèt mo lenj dedsou, mo brasyèr e mo kalson. I put on my underwear, my bra and my panties. (CA) See examples
• brasé CA, MO 60, NE, PC ( v.tr. ) bras CA, MO 60
  1. To stir; brasser, remuer.
     Pandan li kwi mo gen brase mo patat. While she’s cooking I have to stir my potatoes. (PC); Mo bras mo dezeuf e mo dezògnon ansanm. I stir my eggs and my onions together. (CA); Vou bras sa jiska kouchkouch byen sèk. You stir it until the couche-couche is real dry. (MO 60) ♦ Kon li refredi to met de kirelye gazolin e to bras tou sa byen onsonm. When it cools down you put in three spoonfuls of gasoline and you mix them together well. (BI) See examples
• brav CA, PC ( adj. )
  1. Brave; courageux.
     Si to brav, si to pa pèr pèson. If you’re brave, if you’re not afraid of anyone. (PC); To brav pou ale sote dan dolo pou sove so lavi. Li t ap neye. You are brave to go jump in the water to save his life. He was drowning. (CA) ♦ Compair Tigue, ki pli brave, pran couraze et parti avé so ti gasson pou couri fé visite à Compair Cabri. Brer Tiger, who was braver, took courage and left with his little boy to go visit Brer Goat. (T8) See examples
  2. Fine; brave.
     ♦ Pardi! cé pa étonnan si ain brave é onète jeunomme tournin fou, can li apranne que so moman cé ain célérate ki mérité yé pende li. Of course it’s not surprising if a fine and honest young man goes crazy when he learns that his mother was a scoundrel who deserved to be hanged. (ME 91) See examples
• brayé DT 77 ( v.intr. )
  1. To cry; pleurer. '
     E la Choup i di mwen li f e sa mwen pi li bray.’ And then Chup said to me, he did that to me and then he cried.’ (DT 77); Si mo sè ‘caparer ein ti brin di to l'amou, Seigneur, mo sè f ait danser tout moun mo connais. Chanter, ri sourié danser et jamais plus brailler. If I grabbed a little bit of your love, Lord, I would make everyone that I know dance, sing, laugh smile and never cry again. (DC) See examples
• brid No sources ( n. ) labrid CA, MO 60, PC
  1. Bridle; bride.
     Chval-la vini manje , mo mèt la brid on li. The horse comes to eat, and I put the bridle on him. (PC); To gen pou mèt labrid-la dan so ladjèl. Li gen lakòd-ye chak kote pou GUIDE ye chval-la. Se en labrid. You’ve got to put a bridle in his mouth. It’s got ropes on each side to guide their horse. That’s a bridle. (CA) ♦ Eh ben! mo va sèyé, si to lessé mouen metté la bride on toi pou pêché toi couri to vite. Well, I will try, if you let me put the bridle on you to keep you from going too fast. (T3) See examples
• bridon PC ( n. )
  1. Bridle; bride.
     Vou me en bridon. You put a bridle (on the mule). (PC) See examples
  2. Snaffle (bit); bridon. (PC)
• brigan CA, MO 60, MO 72 ( adj. )
  1. Vulgar; grossier.
     Mo vini brigan. I get somewhat vulgar. (MO 72) See examples
  2. Wild; sauvage.
     Li brigan. Li pa bon. Mo gen pou taye li. He’s wild. He’s not good. I’ve got to whip him. (CA) See examples
• brigondé NE ( v. )
  1. To romp, frolic; folâtrer, gambader.
     Ye t ape joue don la ri ape fe brigonde don la ri. They were playing in the street, romping around in the street. (NE) See examples
• brik NE, PC ( n. )
  1. Brick; brique.
     ♦ Li prend la mousse et des briques et bouché trou la. He took moss and bricks and he plugged that hole. (FO T6) •an brik adj.phr. (PC). Brick, made of brick; en brique. Li gen en gro mèzan an brik. He has a big brick house. (PC); Planche an brik. Brick floor. (PC) •brik savon n.phr. (CA; PC); brik d savon (CA). Bar of soap; pain de savon, savonnette. Si li wa li fini sèrvi brik savon kan li lav li , li deve remèt en not brik d savon. If he sees he’s finished using the bar of soap when he washes himself, he should put out another bar of soap. (CA) See examples