I have been on the lookout, and I think I have finally got it. Henceforth, I shall claim that batterie [hear] is my favourite faux ami.
If you go to a French shop and ask for batterie, you will definitely be given a battery (cell), but I have a feeling batterie = battery in English is more of an afterthought. Originally, it must have been derived from battre which in French means ‘to beat’, and seems to be related to battery, as in ‘assault and battery’.
So, what does batterie mean? Well, it is also the French word for Percussion Drums. See any video clip of a rock concert, witness the battering these drums undergo, and you will totally agree that the French word, batterie, is a perfect fit.
If you go to a French shop and ask for batterie, you will definitely be given a battery (cell), but I have a feeling batterie = battery in English is more of an afterthought. Originally, it must have been derived from battre which in French means ‘to beat’, and seems to be related to battery, as in ‘assault and battery’.
So, what does batterie mean? Well, it is also the French word for Percussion Drums. See any video clip of a rock concert, witness the battering these drums undergo, and you will totally agree that the French word, batterie, is a perfect fit.
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