Batteuse

/bæˈtəz/ noun

Definition

A female person who beats or batters; in cooking, a woman who prepares batter; in French usage, a female drummer or percussionist.

Etymology

From French 'batteuse,' feminine form of 'batteur' (beater/drummer), derived from 'battre' (to beat). This is a French loanword used in English primarily in musical or culinary contexts.

Kelly Says

The French language preserves gender in occupational terms like 'batteuse,' while English gradually abandoned this—but we still see 'batteuse' used in professional cooking schools and classical music contexts where French culinary and musical terminology remains prestigious and influential.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

The French suffix '-euse' is feminine-marked. When borrowed into English as 'batteuse' (a woman who beats or a female fencer), it preserves the French gendered occupational marking, which is archaic and unnecessary in English.

Inclusive Usage

In English, use 'beater' or 'fencer' without gendered suffix. If historical context demands the French term, note its archaic nature.

Inclusive Alternatives

["beater (modern English)","fencer (gender-neutral)","person who beats (descriptive)"]

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