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Webster 1913 Edition


Boutade

Bou-tade′

,
Noun.
[F., fr.
bouter
to thrust. See
Butt
.]
An outbreak; a caprice; a whim.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Boutade

BOUTA'DE

,
Noun.
[Eng.put.] Properly, a start; hence, a whim. [Not English.]

Definition 2024


boutade

boutade

English

Noun

boutade (plural boutades)

  1. (obsolete) An outbreak; a caprice; a whim.
    • 1884, Henry James, "The Path of Duty" in The English Illustrated Magazine 2(15): 240–256.
      [H]e suddenly broke out, "Well, then, as I understand you, what you recommend me is to marry Miss Bernardstone, and carry on an intrigue with Lady Vandeleur!" He knew perfectly that I recommended nothing of the sort, and he must have been very angry to indulge in this boutade.


French

Noun

boutade f (plural boutades)

  1. caprice, whim
  2. quip, joke

Italian

Etymology

French

Noun

boutade f (invariable)

  1. witticism, wisecrack

Spanish

Noun

boutade f (plural boutades)

  1. wisecrack