Chouan

noun

Chou·​an

ˈshüˌän

F shwäⁿ

plural Chouans

-änz,

-äⁿ

: one of the royalist insurgents in western France during and after the French revolution

Word History

Etymology

after Jean Chouan (nickname of Jean Cottereau †1794 French revolutionary, one of the leaders), from French dialect chouan owl, alteration of Middle French javan, from Late Latin cavannus, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cwan owl, Breton kaouenn

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