chauvinism

chauvinism
\ \ [19] Chauvinism in its original sense of ‘blind patriotism’ was coined in French from the name of one Nicholas Chauvin of Rochefort, a (possibly legendary) French soldier and veteran of Napoleon’s campaigns noted for his patriotic zeal. He was taken up and ridiculed as the type of the old soldier forever harking back to the glories of Napoleon’s times, and became widely known particularly through the play La cocarde tricolore 1831 by the brothers Cogniard, in which there occurs the line ‘Je suis français, je suis Chauvin’. Hence French chauvinisme, which first appeared in English in 1870.
\ \ The word’s more general application to an unreasoning belief in the superiority of one’s own group (particularly in the context male chauvinism) arose around 1970.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Chauvinism — Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory.[1] It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many… …   Wikipedia

  • chauvinism — is still used in its original meaning, associated with the eponymous Napoleonic veteran Nicolas Chauvin, of ‘exaggerated or aggressive patriotism’. In English (though not in French) it has developed a range of extended uses signifying other kinds …   Modern English usage

  • Chauvinism — Chau vin*ism, n. [F. chauvinisme, from Nicolas Chauvin, a character represented as making grotesque and threatening displays of his attachment to his fallen chief, Napoleon I., in 1815 (in the play La Cocarde tricolor, 1831).] 1. Blind and absurd …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chauvinism — (n.) 1870, exaggerated, blind patriotism, from Fr. chauvinisme (1843), from Nicholas Chauvin, soldier, possibly legendary, of Napoleon s Grand Armee, notoriously attached to the Empire long after it was history. Popularized in France 1831 through …   Etymology dictionary

  • chauvinism — index intolerance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • chauvinism — [n] extreme devotion to a belief or nation bellicism, ethnocentricity, fanatical patriotism, fanaticism, jingoism, narrowness, nationalism, zealotry; concept 689 Ant. unbias …   New thesaurus

  • chauvinism — ► NOUN 1) exaggerated or aggressive patriotism. 2) excessive or prejudiced support for one s own cause, group, or sex. ORIGIN named after Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic veteran noted for his extreme patriotism …   English terms dictionary

  • chauvinism — [shō′və niz΄əm] n. [Fr chauvinisme, after N. Chauvin, soldier of Napoleon I, notorious for his attachment to the lost imperial cause] 1. militant, unreasoning, and boastful devotion to one s country; jingoism 2. unreasoning devotion to one s race …   English World dictionary

  • chauvinism — noun they have a tendency toward small mindedness and chauvinism Syn: jingoism, excessive patriotism, blind patriotism, excessive nationalism, sectarianism, isolationism, flag waving; xenophobia, racism, ethnocentrism, ethnocentricity;… …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • chauvinism — chauvinist, n. chauvinistic, adj. chauvinistically, adv. /shoh veuh niz euhm/, n. 1. zealous and aggressive patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory. 2. biased devotion to any group, attitude, or cause. Cf. male chauvinism. [1865 70; < F …   Universalium

  • chauvinism — I (Roget s IV) n. 1. [Fanatical patriotism] Syn. jingoism, superpatriotism, ultranationalism, hawkishness; see aggression 2 , jingoism , patriotism . 2. [Unreasoning devotion to one s sex, race, etc.] Syn. male chauvinism, female chauvinism,… …   English dictionary for students

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