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vaudois

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Etymology and origin of the French word vaudois

vaudois1 Waldensian

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1263–1265 Rutebeuf, Des Jacobins
Borrowed from
Latin Valdenses
Ultimate origin
Medieval Latin Valdus

Pronunciation

Forms

vaudois (feminine vaudoise, masculine plural vaudois, feminine plural vaudoises)[1]

Etymology

The word for a Waldensian is borrowed from Medieval Latin Valdenses (“Waldensians”), derived from Valdus or Valdesius, the Latin name of Pierre Valdo, or Valdès, who started the sect.[2][3][4] Rey says that the surname means “of the valley”, and that Valdo was a merchant of Lyon who founded an evangelical group at the end of the 12th century.[4] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert derive the word directly from Valdo's name.[5][6] Littré says that Valdo was a rich merchant of Lyon, thought to have come from the Dauphiné.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as a noun about 1263–1265 in Rutebeuf's poem Des Jacobins, naming a member of Valdo's sect.[2][4] The Grand Robert dates it to 1285, after the FEW.[5][8]

Semantic evolution

The Waldensians preached the Gospel and practised poverty; they rejected whatever was not expressly in the Bible, and were fought and hunted down as heretics, sometimes confused with the Cathars, whom they opposed.[4][6][2] Littré describes them as the “poor men of Lyon”, who refused obedience to the clergy and held that lay people could give communion.[7] In the 16th century they joined the Reformation, and the word came to name the Protestants of the Waldensian valleys of Piedmont.[4][7] The adjective is recorded from 1644, in the title of Pierre Gilles's history of the churches of the Piedmont valleys, autrefois appellées églises vaudoises.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1263–1265 – Rutebeuf uses Vaudois of a member of the sect.[2][4]
  • 1285 – The date the FEW gives, followed by the Grand Robert.[5][8]
  • 1644 – First used as an adjective, by P. Gilles.[2]
  • 1904 – Larousse records the adjective.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A Waldensian, a member of the Christian movement founded by Pierre Valdo in the 12th century, now part of Protestantism.[6][2][9]

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to the Waldensians: l'hérésie vaudoise.[6][2][8]

vaudois2 of the canton of Vaud

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1761 Rousseau, La Nouvelle Héloïse
Ultimate origin
French Vaud,-ois

Pronunciation

Forms

vaudois (feminine vaudoise, masculine plural vaudois, feminine plural vaudoises)[1]

Etymology

The word for an inhabitant of Vaud is formed from French Vaud + -ois, from the name of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.[2][1][8] The DHLF and the Grand Robert instead trace it to Medieval Latin pagus Valdensis (“the land of Vaud”).[4][5] Rey notes that the region became a county of the Carolingian empire, named Comitatus Valdensis in 835, and suggests that the name may come from valdum (“strong”), for a fortified place; he finds a Germanic origin unlikely.[4] The name corresponds to German Waadt (and Waadtland) and Romansh Vad.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as a noun in 1761, in Rousseau's La Nouvelle Héloïse, for an inhabitant of the canton of Vaud.[2]

Semantic evolution

The adjective is recorded in 1824, and the sense “characteristic of the canton of Vaud and its people” in 1894.[2] The Grand Robert and the DHLF date the word to the end of the 18th century.[5][4] Much of the French-language literature of Switzerland, such as the work of Ramuz and Chessex, deals with the land of Vaud and its people.[4]

Timeline

  • 1761 – Rousseau uses Vaudois of an inhabitant of Vaud.[2]
  • 1824 – First recorded as an adjective.[2]
  • 1894 – L. Favrat's Mélanges vaudois use it for what is proper to the canton and its people.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of or from the canton of Vaud, in Switzerland.[2][8][9][1]

Noun

  1. An inhabitant or native of the canton of Vaud.[2][8]
  • English Waldensian

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 14, 129a
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Vaudois.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/vaudois. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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