Huguenot

[ hyoo-guh-not or, often, yoo- ]
/ ˈhyu gəˌnɒt or, often, ˈyu- /

noun

a member of the Reformed or Calvinistic communion of France in the 16th and 17th centuries; a French Protestant.

Origin of Huguenot

1555–65; < French, perhaps blend of Hugues (name of a political leader in Geneva) and eidgenot, back formation from eidgenots, Swiss variant of German Eidgenoss confederate, literally, oath comrade

OTHER WORDS FROM Huguenot

Hu·gue·not·ic, adjective Hu·gue·not·ism, noun

Example sentences from the Web for huguenots

British Dictionary definitions for huguenots

Huguenot
/ (ˈhjuːɡəˌnəʊ, -ˌnɒt) /

noun

a French Calvinist, esp of the 16th or 17th centuries

adjective

designating the French Protestant Church

Derived forms of Huguenot

Huguenotic, adjective Huguenotism, noun

Word Origin for Huguenot

C16: from French, from Genevan dialect eyguenot one who opposed annexation by Savoy, ultimately from Swiss German Eidgenoss confederate; influenced by Hugues, surname of 16th-century Genevan burgomaster

Cultural definitions for huguenots

Huguenots
[ (hyooh-guh-nots) ]

French Protestants of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, who were frequently persecuted by the government and by the Roman Catholic Church. For a time, the Edict of Nantes allowed them to practice their religion in certain cities. When the edict was revoked by King Louis xiv in the late seventeenth century, many Huguenots left France. Some emigrated to America.