Aline Hornaday wrote:
>Just a footnote to friperie & Ste.-Fripette - Ste.-Fripette-les-bois is >not
listed in the old Bottin or the modern Dictionnaire national des >communes de
France, so rather than a village it may indeed be a place >where people dealt
in rags, what in French is called a lieu-dit >(equivalent to English
'hamlet'), with a joking name. Or perhaps it is
>the feminine of fripon, a clever thief, con man or (jokingly) a >mischievous
child? Can one imagine a thieves' den in the woods? Perhaps >the rags were
stolen goods?
I don't believe I've ever used "Bottin", but it is quite remarkable how the
names of smaller places have changed, even in this century.
Bureacrats at the _Poste_ finding something to do, I suppose. So this
century's Dictionnaire des communes might not have the old form of the name.
Perhaps someone has accesss to the work which I previously non-cited as:
"Joanne. Dictionaire topographique... 8 vols."
Probably be a bit easier to find as:
Joanne, Paul Benigne. Dictionnaire geographique et administratif de la France.
Paris : Hachette, (1890)-1905. 7v : illus., maps.
In my experience this reference work is invaluable, listing the smallest of
places (even some _lieux-dits_), together with their c. 1900
population and whether or not they were then noted for the production of
parapluies, sabbots or whatever (Trivial Persuit players take note). Places
with significant monuments historiques may have a picture. The departmental
maps don't show *every* place, but do have topographic details....
My own copy is in the frozen midwest; and I miss it.
I suppose, in view of the imaginative faculties which have been over exercised
by the spirit of Sainte Fripette, we could make her the Patroness of the List.
But, perhaps Isadore of Saville would be more appropriate.
Best to all from here,
Christopher
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