chiffonnier

rag-and-bone man, junk dealer

noun shee-fo-NYAY Rare

Origin: from chiffon 'rag' + -ier

Also means

tall chest of drawers (furniture)

Usage Note

Chiffonnier has two distinct meanings: the person who collects or deals in rags and second-hand goods, and a tall narrow chest of drawers. The phrase se battre comme des chiffonniers (to fight like rag-pickers) is a well-known French idiom meaning to quarrel fiercely.

Examples

"Le chiffonnier vendait de vieux vêtements."

Natural Translation

The rag-and-bone man sold old clothes.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Noun Gender: Rules to Guess Right 80%

Guess French noun gender right 80% of the time using word endings: -age, -ment, -eau are masculine; -tion, -té, -ette are feminine. A high-yield system.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

How to Say "I Miss You" in French (Without Errors)

"I miss you" in French is Tu me manques, not Je te manque. Learn the subject-flip behind manquer so you never text the opposite of what you mean.

June 4, 2026 6 min read