Friday, September 26, 2008

Saute mouton

Thank you, Mr Idle Writer, for pointing out that 'leapfrog', in French, is saute mouton.
Why would they go and call it 'Leap sheep'. Why isn't it saute grenouille?

While you give this curious fact your full consideration, please listen to ce Saute-Mouton-ci or watch ce Saute-Mouton-la (avec accent)

1 comment:

Andy Bridle said...

It does make you wonder, MM. Mind you, if you're going to invent a game that involves jumping over animals, you may as well choose one that presents something of a challenge. After all, it doesn't require huge leaping ability to clear a frog; a gentle stepping over would suffice. Then again, why a sheep? Why not a horse or a cow? Or, as it says in some good(?) book or other, it's more difficult to jump over a camel than through the eye of a needle.