Shu and I were recently at the Art Institute to see the Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre exhibit, and one of the signs had the word "trottin" with "errand girl" in parentheses. I can't find it in any English dictionary, nor can I find it in a French dictionary. Has anyone heard of it? Maybe I have misspelled it?

It was in my old Cassells. Trottin 'errand boy, page'. Used in the idiom: Aller chercher les pardons de Saint Trottin. 'To go for a walk instead of going to church.' My French etymological dictionary (Gamillscheg) has under trot 'trot': 12th cen. from Old High German trottôn 'to step, tread; kick'. No doubt whence our trot.

[Corrected typo and publisher's information.]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: zmježd,

Here's a page about the lithograph: Le Petit Trottin.

Yes, Arnie, that was it! Thanks! You can see how wonderful the exhibit was.

Thanks, Zmj. I put it in 2 French-English translators online and came up with nothing.