Dictionary

pique-devant en · NOUN

Etymology

Probably coined in England, from French pique (“pike, spade (cards)”) or piquer (“to prick”) + devant (“in front”)

Meanings

1. (historical, obsolete) A small beard trimmed to a sharp point.
   • I have seene the Cavalier you have so often spoken of, and I thinke you judge verie rightlie of him. Hee consists wholly of a Pickedevant [in the French original: la pointe de sa barbe], and two Mustachoes: and therefore utterly to defeate him, there needes but three clippes of a paire of Cizers. 1638, Richard Baker, transl., New Epistles of Mounsieur de Balzac […] Being the second and third volumes, London: Fra. Eglesfield, John Crooke, and Rich. Serger, Letter 51, p. 108:
   • In the Sinister Chief is set another sort of a full Face with a sharp pointed Beard, and is termed in Blazon, a Mans face with a Pick-a-devant, (or sharp pointed) Beard. 1688, Randle Holme III, The Academy of Armory, Chester, Book 2, p. 389:
   • Neither will I meddle with our varietie of beards, of which some are shauen from the chin like those of Turks, not a few cut short like to the beard of marques Otto, some made round like a rubbing brush, other with a pique de vant (O fine fashion!) or now and then suffered to grow long, the barbers being growen to be so cunning in this behalfe as the tailors. 1587, Raphael Holinshed et al., Holinshed’s Chronicle, London: Henry Denham, Book 2, Chapter 7, p. 172:
   • twice double his Patrimonie hath he spent in carefull cherishing & preseruing his pickerdeuant 1596, Thomas Nashe, Have with You to Saffron-Walden, London: John Danter:
   • Wag[ner]. Sirra boy, come hither. Clo[wn]. How, boy? swowns boy, I hope you haue séene many boyes with such pickadevaunts as I haue. 1604, Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, London: Thomas Bushell:

Forms

Synonyms

stiletto · bodkin beard