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Jun 8, 2017 10:44
6 yrs ago
French term
United Kingdom
The highest professional standards
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English
serveuse élégante
French to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
occupations
I am translating some archive documents in relation to client's family history. The document is dated 1936 and was written in Belgium:
"ABC n'exercise plus la profession de serveuse élégante depuis le 15.04.35"
There is no other context whatsoever about this person, other than that she was born in Luxembourg in 1911.
Is this a polite euphemism for a waitress "with services on the side"?! The man she was cohabiting with is described in another (unrelated) document as a pimp.
Thanks.
"ABC n'exercise plus la profession de serveuse élégante depuis le 15.04.35"
There is no other context whatsoever about this person, other than that she was born in Luxembourg in 1911.
Is this a polite euphemism for a waitress "with services on the side"?! The man she was cohabiting with is described in another (unrelated) document as a pimp.
Thanks.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 2 | "serveuse élégante" / elegant barmaid / bargirl / hostess / barmaid mermaid |
Daryo
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References
| fwiw, hth |
writeaway
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| More... |
Charles Davis
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Proposed translations
5 hrs
"serveuse élégante" / elegant barmaid / bargirl / hostess / barmaid mermaid
from what I could find, there wasn't and isn't now anything in UK that could be considered as similar to "une serveuse élégante".
There are other professions that are used as a rather obvious front or cover (modelling, massage, escorting being the most obvious ones) but not barmaids.
Elsewhere, it's another story:
A bargirl is a woman who is paid to entertain patrons in a bar, either individually or, in some cases, as a performer. The exact nature of the entertainment varies widely from place to place; depending on the venue this can be individual entertainment ranging from light conversation to sexual services, or more public entertainment in the form of Go-go dancing or striptease. Variants on the term include B-girl, hostess, juicy girl, and guest relations officer.
Bargirls work in various types of bars throughout the world, including strip clubs and regular bars in the U.S., hostess bars in East Asia, go-go bars and "beer bars" in Southeast Asia, dance bars in India, and boliches in Argentina.
Note that a bargirl should not be confused with a barmaid, who serves drinks in a bar but is not expected to entertain customers individually or to dance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargirl
Parlez-vous le politiquement correct?
entraîneuse = hôtesse élégante, serveuse élégante
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=c8ZG0dCh8sgC&pg=PA100&lp...
maybe just leave it in French and add a short explanation?
There are other professions that are used as a rather obvious front or cover (modelling, massage, escorting being the most obvious ones) but not barmaids.
Elsewhere, it's another story:
A bargirl is a woman who is paid to entertain patrons in a bar, either individually or, in some cases, as a performer. The exact nature of the entertainment varies widely from place to place; depending on the venue this can be individual entertainment ranging from light conversation to sexual services, or more public entertainment in the form of Go-go dancing or striptease. Variants on the term include B-girl, hostess, juicy girl, and guest relations officer.
Bargirls work in various types of bars throughout the world, including strip clubs and regular bars in the U.S., hostess bars in East Asia, go-go bars and "beer bars" in Southeast Asia, dance bars in India, and boliches in Argentina.
Note that a bargirl should not be confused with a barmaid, who serves drinks in a bar but is not expected to entertain customers individually or to dance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargirl
Parlez-vous le politiquement correct?
entraîneuse = hôtesse élégante, serveuse élégante
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=c8ZG0dCh8sgC&pg=PA100&lp...
maybe just leave it in French and add a short explanation?
Reference comments
34 mins
Reference:
fwiw, hth
LE CRIME DE L'OLYMPIA A IXELLES - Archives - lesoir.be
archives.lesoir.be/.../crime-serveuse-marocaine-ixellles_t-19900126... -
Jan 26, 1990 - Il s'assied près de Malika Nafia, une Marocaine de 37 ans que les policiers connaissent sous l'étiquette de «serveuse élégante». Une dispute ..
Une vraie fille de joie. Frisée et accorte, Nadine, 24 ans, transpire la joie. D’ailleurs, de joie, elle est fille. C’est libre qu’elle comparait devant la Chambre à Trois Juges du Tribunal correctionnel de Liège pour atteinte à la pudeur et outrage aux mœurs. En août, alors qu’elle était « serveuse élégante » dans un bar de la rue Varin à Liège, elle reçut la visite de quatre jeunes garçons ( dans le vent) de 15, 16 et 17 ans qui, curieux comme on l’est à cet âge-là, « désiraient voir ce qui se passait derrière cette façade ». L’un d’eux, en présence de ses copains, aurait bénéficié de caresses réciproques, le tout en échange d’un billet de mille francs
http://www.critiqueslibres.com/i.php/forum/sujet/12098
archives.lesoir.be/.../crime-serveuse-marocaine-ixellles_t-19900126... -
Jan 26, 1990 - Il s'assied près de Malika Nafia, une Marocaine de 37 ans que les policiers connaissent sous l'étiquette de «serveuse élégante». Une dispute ..
Une vraie fille de joie. Frisée et accorte, Nadine, 24 ans, transpire la joie. D’ailleurs, de joie, elle est fille. C’est libre qu’elle comparait devant la Chambre à Trois Juges du Tribunal correctionnel de Liège pour atteinte à la pudeur et outrage aux mœurs. En août, alors qu’elle était « serveuse élégante » dans un bar de la rue Varin à Liège, elle reçut la visite de quatre jeunes garçons ( dans le vent) de 15, 16 et 17 ans qui, curieux comme on l’est à cet âge-là, « désiraient voir ce qui se passait derrière cette façade ». L’un d’eux, en présence de ses copains, aurait bénéficié de caresses réciproques, le tout en échange d’un billet de mille francs
http://www.critiqueslibres.com/i.php/forum/sujet/12098
Note from asker:
| Thank you, and I can't help but chuckle at "curieux comme on l’est à cet âge-là.."! |
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
Victoria Britten
32 mins
|
| agree |
Charles Davis
: What a delightful term
36 mins
|
| agree |
philgoddard
: "Femme galante" is another one. "Lady of the night" is a nice equivalent.
1 hr
|
| agree |
Daryo
: un euphémisme vraiment élégant!
1 hr
|
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: <3 The girl is up before the court, but the boys are just curious.
2 hrs
|
1 hr
Reference:
More...
"Les maisons de prostitution bruxelloises font face, à cette époque, à la redoutable concurrence de la « taverne à serveuse élégante », institution qui prolifère autour des gares. C'est là que se divertissent les riches provinciaux. Entre piste de danse et porto, une accorte demoiselle travaille à la commission ou au pourboire, sans pour autant refuser de suivre son client dans une chambre discrète."
Les chemins belges de Simenon, 127
https://books.google.es/books?id=fSmDVjc9QOEC&pg=PA127
Les chemins belges de Simenon, 127
https://books.google.es/books?id=fSmDVjc9QOEC&pg=PA127
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
Daryo
1 hr
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Merci !
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| agree |
writeaway
: I was surprised to see it was still being used in the 1990's. /definitely pre-war(s) or even turn of century/late 1800's.
22 hrs
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Me too; it sounds like a pre-war expression. // Yes, like the Victorian euphemism "accommodating women", for example.
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Discussion