{{Short description|French word for toad}} {{about|the French word|the municipality in Prince Edward Island|Crapaud, Prince Edward Island}} thumb|Vignette de ''Les Cygnes sauvages'' par Bertall représentant la princesse Élisa et les trois crapauds. (Thumbnail of ''The Wild Swans'' by Bertall representing the Princess Eliza and three toads.) '''Crapaud''' is a French word meaning "toad".
==Etymology== The word {{Wikt-lang|fr|crapaud}} ultimately is rooted from Frankish ''*krappō'', ''*krappa'', meaning "hook", likely in reference to the toad's hooked feet.
==Heraldry== Crapaud is sometimes used as an incorrect reference to the Fleur-de-lys on the ancient heraldic flag of the kings of France. The three fleurs-de-lys were sometimes misinterpreted as "three toads erect, saltant", instead of "three lily flowers".<ref>{{cite book|title=The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable|isbn=1840223103|pages=438–439|author=Ebenezer Cobham Brewer|year=2001|publisher=Wordsworth Editions |quote=Fleur-de-lis, -lys, or -luce (Fr. lily-flower), which is the name of several varieties of iris, and also of the heractic lily, which is here shown and which was borne as a charge on the old French royal coat-of-arms. In the reign of Louis VII (1137–80) the national standard was thickly charged with flowers. In 1365 the number was reduced by Charles VI to ''three'' (the mystical church number). Guillim, in his ''Display of Heraldrie'', 1611, says the device is "Three toads erect, saltant".}}</ref>
==In fiction== The word ''crapaud'' is used extensively by fictional British soldier Richard Sharpe as a derogatory term for the French in Bernard Cornwell's novels set during the Napoleonic Wars.<ref>Ellen J. Millington. ''[https://archive.org/details/heraldryinhisto00millgoog/page/n23 <!-- pg=8 --> Heraldry in history, poetry, and romance]''. Chapman and Hall; 1858 [cited 27 September 2012]. p. 8–.</ref>
==Jean Crapaud== '''Jean Crapaud''', also Johnny Crappeau or Johnny Crappo, as defined by ''Webster's Online Dictionary'', "is a jocose name given to a Frenchman. It is intended as a national personification of the French people as a whole in much the same sense as John Bull is to the English. It is sometimes used as a literary device to refer to a typical Frenchman, usually in the form of ''Monsieur Jean Crapaud''."<ref>[https://archive.today/20130416031347/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/Jean+Crapaud Jean Crapaud.] Webster's Online Dictionary. Retrieved 26 September 2012.</ref> The usage of the word "crapaud" in this case is similar to the derogative use of the word "frog", referencing the supposed French affinity for frog legs as a delicacy.
== Jersey Crapaud ==
The name ''Crapaud'' is used in the Channel Islands to describe a person from Jersey, the name meaning "toad" in the local Patois languages, including Jèrriais and Guernésiais. Spiny toads live in Jersey but not on the other islands.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-29530886 |title=Jersey toad is unique species, say experts |work=BBC News |date=9 October 2014 }}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery widths=150px heights=150px perrow="3"> File:La Femme aux crapauds par Paul Berthon.png|''La Femme aux crapauds'' par Paul Berthon File:Strasbourg, cathédrale, tentateur et vierges folles 02.jpg|The "tempter" (he holds the forbidden fruit; hidden in his back are toads and reptiles, symbolising corruption) and the foolish virgins (their lamps are overturned, symbolising their emptiness; they hold the scrolls of the law closed, thus remaining ignorant of the Lord's will). A mediaeval interpretation of the Parable of the Ten Virgins from the Gospel of Matthew 25:1–13. File:Blason Pharamon.svg|Arms of Pharamond: Sable three golden toads. File:Armes du Prince Gwenael Louis GARAUD.png|Arms of Gwenael Louis Garaud File:Rivals - JM Staniforth.png|Cartoon showing France in the guise of Johnny Crappeau </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * James Edwards (Professor.). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=HkkgAAAAMAAJ John Bull, Uncle Sam and Johnny Crapaud]''. Henry G. Little; 1888. * James Edwards. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=B491RQAACAAJ John Bull, Uncle Sam and Johnny Crapaud]''. BiblioBazaar; February 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-144-02435-0}}. * Mary Alice Fontenot. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=VGGPecY-tCwC Clovis Crawfish and the Curious Crapaud]''. Pelican Publishing; 1 November 1986. {{ISBN|978-0-88289-610-6}}.
{{Heraldic creatures}} {{National personifications}}
Category:National personifications Category:Heraldic beasts