Bureaux

/bjʊˈɹoʊz/ noun

Definition

Plural of bureau; plural form of desk or office, often used in formal French English contexts.

Etymology

From French bureau (originally meant 'baize-covered desk,' from Old French bure 'baize fabric'). The French plural form bureaux is sometimes used in English, though 'bureaus' is more common in American English.

Kelly Says

Bureaux is a French spelling that shows up in English legal documents and old institutions—using it sounds more official, which is ironic since it's just the French plural of 'desk.'

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