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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 13.0699  Thursday, 7 March 2002

From:           Frank Whigham <ffw@uts.cc.utexas.edu>
Date:           Thursday, 07 Mar 2002 08:25:55 -0600
Subject:        "frog"

Do we know if the abusive use of the term "frog" for the French has
anything to do with Elizabeth I's nickname for her French suitor
Alençon?

        The OED cites nothing earlier than 1872, under "froggy":

A term of contempt for a Frenchman, from their reputed habit of eating
frogs.

1872 SCHELE DE VERE *Americanisms* 82 As when Frenchmen were dubbed
Froggies.

Frank Whigham

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