For a good startle last week, my Word-of-the-Day was martinet. I have been reading spanking blogs for over a year now, including French blogs, and I had never come across this.DEFINITION:
noun: A strict disciplinarian.
ETYMOLOGY:
After Jean Martinet, an army officer during the reign of Louis XIV in France. He was a tough drill master known for his strict adherence to rules and discipline. He was killed by friendly fire during the siege of Duisburg in 1672.USAGE:
"Many people believe the agency acts like a martinet. They say the agency is hard-headed and hard-hearted. They say it is dictatorial and unyielding."COMMENTS FROM READERS:
"Born and educated in France, I remember the martinet, the French word for an object like a baton with leather ribbons gathered at one end. The martinet was the ultimate threat when a child misbehaved, object of fear, it was hooked in homes at arm's length of parents, generally in the kitchen. Believe it or not, I recently noticed some for sale in a French hardware store in Paris!"
"Just the word "martinet" still sends chills up my spine even though I never felt its wrath, nor witnessed its use. You see, "le martinet" was the much feared leather strap -- capable of delivering one heck of a wallop -- that hung on the wall in our French Catholic school classrooms. Just the sight of one was enough to keep the unruliest students in line. "Barbare" to say the least!"
"In French-Canadian grade schools, over fifty years ago, unruly students would go to the principal's office to receive a form of punishment we called "le martinet", essentially a leather strap blow to the hands. I know I worked pretty darn hard not to make such a visit."
"In French-Canadian circles (particularly in Northern Ontario), the term "martinet" was used to refer to a large wooden paddle (or other wooden stick) that school principals used for discipline, correction, and coercion.
I myself never fell victim to "Le Martinet", but I was aware of those who were "disciplined" using this holdover from the inquisition. Nevertheless, the word itself was enough to cause a child to tremble in their "souliers"."
So I looked it up on Wikipedia and they had the photo above as an illustration. That's when it dawned on me, we own one of those!!
6 comments:
I've also read that the implement name was derived from the officer, as he favored the Large military version of it.
Yes, that leather strap on the hands was a favourite, but only for boys. I think it was just one strap, though, not a bundle. But then, I went to an English-speaking school.
I have often come across the term with reference to female disciplinarians in my vast collection of Victorian erotica.
Hugs,
Hermione
I remember the word "martinet" from French class but didn't have an image of it in my head.
My Man and I went to a well-stocked toy shop the other day to browse around and saw these. We both slapped our hands some but decided not to purchase. With some force, it would hurt for sure.
I also remember the Martinet from French classes and our French teacher explaining to us about it.
Hermione is right, a single leather strap to the hand was used.
Martinet very similar to the flogger but flogger lightly. The martinet also can be made from cord instead of leather.
Thanks Carly.
Ronnie
xx
DO NOT SHOW DAVEY THIS THING!!!! xxxxx
This post was very interesting, thank you for sharing! I had never heard that word before (only took beginners French), but I am so going to use it on Mr M now and he won't know what it means *weg*...
Love the pics btw, those are just floggers right? I love the different sensations floggers bring when used skillfully ;-)
(hugs)
Mrs M
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