foudre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / ArchaicHistorical / Technical (winemaking)
Quick answer
What does “foudre” mean?
A large cask or barrel used for transporting wine or spirits, typically with a capacity of around 1000 litres.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large cask or barrel used for transporting wine or spirits, typically with a capacity of around 1000 litres.
A historical unit of liquid measurement, specifically for wine; can also poetically or metaphorically refer to a vast container or reserve of something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No practical difference in usage, as the term is equally obscure in both varieties. It is primarily encountered in historical or technical contexts related to European wine trade, which may be slightly more common in UK-based texts.
Connotations
Connotes historical authenticity, traditional French winemaking, and archaic measurement systems.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in contemporary general language for both varieties. Extremely rare even in specialised fields.
Grammar
How to Use “foudre” in a Sentence
The [SUBSTANCE] was stored in a foudre of [NUMBER] litres.They imported several foudres of [WINE TYPE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical term in wine trade documentation.
Academic
Used in historical, oenological, or economic studies of pre-modern European trade.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
May appear in very specialised literature on traditional winemaking or cooperage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foudre”
- Mispronouncing it like 'founder' or 'folder'.
- Assuming it is a contemporary or common term.
- Using it in modern contexts where 'tank', 'vat', or 'barrel' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare and archaic borrowing from French, used almost exclusively in historical or very specialised winemaking contexts.
It is pronounced approximately as /ˈfuːdrə/ (FOO-druh), similar to the French pronunciation but with an English accent.
A foudre is specifically a very large cask, typically holding around 1,000 litres, much larger than a standard wine barrel (which is often 225-300 litres). It is a historical term for a specific size.
No, in English, 'foudre' is only used as a noun referring to the large cask. The French word 'foudre' can mean lightning, but that meaning is not used in English.
A large cask or barrel used for transporting wine or spirits, typically with a capacity of around 1000 litres.
Foudre is usually historical / technical (winemaking) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'FOUDRE' as a FOO-lly large DRUM for wine, used in olden times.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FOUDRE IS A HISTORICAL CONTAINER (for wine, time, tradition).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'foudre'?