langue d'oïl

(ng dō̂ ēl)

a group of French dialects spoken in most of central and N France in the Middle Ages: it is the Old French from which modern French is derived

Origin: Fr, lit., language of oïl (< OFr, yes < LL hoc illi < L hoc, this + ille, that): from characteristic use of oïl (Fr oui) for affirmation: cf. langue d'oc

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