Ah, the French.

[panaphobic]

IN FRANCE a condom is known as capote Anglaise, or "English cap." A gentleman once went into a French shop, intending to purchase a dark cap, to wear in mourning for his wife, who had recently died. He knew the French word for cap was capote, so he asked for that. Several were shown him, but he wanted one English style, so he asked for a capote

Comments

English Caps, French Letters.

[anonymous]

Interestingly, during WWII and shortly thereafter, a condom was known in England as a "French Letter". Perhaps neither country wanted to acknowledge that such a thing could have originated on its own soil.

Re: English Caps, French Letters.

[panaphobic]

Yeah, I knew that they were called French Letters (and "French Ticklers" as well). Another interesting bit is that seeing someone without saying anything to them (and thereby snubbing them) is called a French Greeting in English, and an English Greeting in French.