We all know a chauvinist pig or two don’t we ladies – a gentleman who has a ‘prejudiced belief in the superiority of his own gender’?

However, did you know that the word ‘chauvin’ (which gave English the word chauvinist) actually means patriotic in French and has nothing to do with dislike of the fairer sex?

In fact, the word was coined after Nicolas Chauvin, soldier in Napoleon’s army, who was fanatically loyal to his emperor.

French Dictionary Definition of the adjective ‘chauvin’
“Qui a ou manifeste un patriotisme fanatique et belliqueux”.
“Qui a une admiration outrée, partiale et exclusive pour son pays.

English Dictionary Definition of the adjective ‘chavinistic’
“Believing that or behaving as if women are naturally less important, intelligent, or able than men”
“Believing or showing an unreasonable belief that your own country or race is the best or most important: