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cordonnier

cobbler, shoemaker

noun kor-don-YAY Rare

Origin: From cordon (lace, cord), referring to the waxed thread used in stitching shoes

Usage Note

Cordonnier traditionally made shoes, but today the trade mainly means shoe repair. The French saying les cordonniers sont toujours les plus mal chaussés ('the cobbler's children are always worst shod') is widely used to note that experts neglect their own domain. The feminine is cordonnière.

Examples

"Le cordonnier a réparé mes chaussures en une heure."

Natural Translation

The cobbler repaired my shoes in an hour.

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