English

Adjective

retroussé ‎(comparative more retroussé, superlative most retroussé)

1. Turned up, as in describing the nose.
   • 1903 April, "Sir Oracle", in The Era: A Monthly Magazine of Literature, Volume XI, Number 4, p.303:

     […] Roxelane […] would never have been espoused by the Sultan had not her nose been retroussé, thus […]. ¶ It may be noted that to this day a retroussé nose is known in France as a nose a la Roxelane.

   • 1907, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “chapter IX”, in The Younger Set (Project Gutenberg; EBook #14852), New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, published 1 February 2005 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 4241346:

     “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; […]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.

   • 2004, Michael Gilbert, The Dust and the Heat

     You know, a touch of character – slightly retroussé nose, big mouth, perhaps a couple of freckles.

   • 2004, Anita-Louise Johnson, Faithful

     Luminous silver gray eyes outlined in sooty lashes; a pert retroussé nose and faintly carmine tinted lips, slightly full, finished the oval face.

   • 2008, Fiona Capp, Musk and Byrne

     She shares with this woman the same retroussé nose and half-moon eyes, the same asymmetrical smile.

   • 2010, Jasper Fforde, Shades of Grey

     I would simply waffle about her small, almost perfectly upswept, retroussé nose, and you'd consider me insane, and put me back.

Related terms

• pug-nosed

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʁət.ʁu.se/

Verb

retroussé m ‎(feminine singular retroussée, masculine plural retroussés, feminine plural retroussées)

1. past participle of retrousser