ˈgaləˌsizəm noun
( -s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: French gallicisme, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin Gallicus Gallic + Middle French -isme -ism
1.
a. : a word, expression, or grammatical construction distinctive of French appearing especially in a context in another language
an English novel full of gallicisms
b. : a word or expression that is adapted to another language from French by translation and that retains a distinctively French construction or word sense (as in attorney general or it is to laugh [from c'est à rire ])
2.
a. : a mode of thought or an outlook that is distinctive of the French
the gallicism in French-Canadian novels
b. : a distinctively French action
cheek kissing is a gallicism