DERIVATION OF "BOCHE."
The "Mercure" traces in an original way tlie derivation of the word "boche," which will not soon lose its popularity anywhere in France. Forty years ago, in Paris, Lyons, and elsewhere, it states, thick-headed people, and especial'.y urchins, were called "tetes de. boche." Some have thought that tins was a form of "tete de bois," but the "Mercure" believes rather that it came from over the Italian border, where "boccia" designates the round ball of excessively hard wood used in playing tenpins. Mazarin himself centuries ago naturalised "boctoatte" (little ball) in French. The Germans being notoriously callous and stupid, it was only natural for the French to begin referring to them as "Alleboches" and "Alboch^s." the latter word being listed by Larches dictiona-ry of French slang in 1889. Since 1910 the Avord "boche" has been very commonly used .in the large centres of both the north and south of France to designate Germans.
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Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18384, 4 July 1917, Page 2
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156DERIVATION OF "BOCHE." Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18384, 4 July 1917, Page 2
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