sans-culotte

[ sanz-kyoo-lot, -koo-; French sahn-ky-lawt ]

noun

, plural sans-cu·lottes [sanz-ky, oo, -, lots, -k, oo, -, sah, n, -k, y, -, lawt].

1. (in the French Revolution) a revolutionary of the poorer class: originally a term of contempt applied by the aristocrats but later adopted as a popular name by the revolutionaries.
2. any extreme republican or revolutionary.

sans-culotte

/ ˌsænzkjʊˈlɒt; sɑ̃kylɔt /

noun

1. during the French Revolution
   1. (originally) a revolutionary of the poorer class
   2. (later) any revolutionary, esp one having extreme republican sympathies
2. any revolutionary extremist

Derived Forms

• ˌsans-cuˈlottist, noun
• ˌsans-cuˈlottism, noun

Other Words From

• sans-cu·lot·tic [sanz-ky, oo, -, lot, -ik, -k, oo, -], adjective
• sans-cu·lottish adjective
• sans-cu·lottism noun
• sans-cu·lottist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sans-culotte¹

1780–90; < French: literally, without knee breeches

Word History and Origins

Origin of sans-culotte¹

C18: from French, literally: without knee breeches, because the revolutionaries wore pantaloons or trousers rather than knee breeches

Example Sentences

Clearly the sans-culotte of Brussels was a mere tinsel imitation of the genuine article at Paris.

From Project Gutenberg

Hard names were not wanting either; Jefferson was ridiculed as a sans-culotte and red-legged Democrat.

From Project Gutenberg

Two men in sans-culotte costume were seated at a small table in the restaurant of Père Lefèvre.

From Project Gutenberg

He could not even command words in which to thank this kind-hearted sans-culotte for his timely warning.

From Project Gutenberg

"Aye, he took French leave, the b--y sans culotte" returned the captain, putting himself in a better humor with his own pun.

From Project Gutenberg