épouvantail

scarecrow

noun eh-poo-vahn-TYE Rare

Also means

bugbear

Usage Note

Épouvantail literally means a device to frighten (épouvanter = to terrify). In a field, it is a scarecrow; figuratively, un épouvantail is a bogeyman used to frighten people into compliance (l'épouvantail de la récession). The plural is épouvantails. Related: épouvante (terror), film d'épouvante (horror film).

Examples

"Un épouvantail protège les semis des oiseaux."

Natural Translation

A scarecrow protects the seedlings from birds.

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