WWI Glossary of French Toponyms
The following is a list of English translations for French words and abbreviations that appear on the WWI maps.
It is reproduced here from a standard glossary that was printed on the back (verso) of many trench maps.
French |
English |
|---|---|
| Abbaye, Abbe | Abbey |
| Abreuvoir, Abr | Watering-place |
| Abri de douaniers | Customs-shelter |
| Acierie | Steel works |
| Aiguilles | Points (Ry.) |
| Allee | Alley, Narrow road |
| Ancien - ne, Ancn-e | Old |
| Aqueduc | Aqueduct |
| Arbre | Tree |
| Arbre eventail | Tree fan-shaped |
| Arbre decharne | Tree bare |
| Arbre fourchu | Tree forked |
| Arbre isole | Tree isolated |
| Arbre penche | Tree leaning |
| Arbrisseau | Small tree |
| Arc | Arch |
| Ardoisiere, Ardre | Slate quarry |
| Arret | Halt |
| Asile | Asylum |
| Asile des alienes | Lunatic asylum |
| Asile d'alienes | Lunatic asylum |
| Asile de charite | Asylum |
| Asile des pauvres | Asylum |
| Asile de refuge | Asylum |
| Auberge, Aubge | Inn |
| Aune | Alder-tree |
| Bec | Ferry |
| Bec a traille | Ferry |
| Bains | Baths |
| Place aux bains | Bathing place |
| Balise | Boom, Beacon |
| Banc de sable | Sand-bank |
| Banc de vase | Mud-bank |
| Baraque | Hut |
| Barrage | Dam |
| Barriere | Gate, Stile |
| (Machine a) Bascule | Weigh-bridge |
| Bassin | Dock, Pond |
| Bassin d'echouage | Tidal dock |
| Bassin de radoub | Dry dock |
| Bateau phare | Light-ship |
| Blanchisserie | Laundry |
| B.M. (borne milliare) | Mile stone |
| B4 (borne kilometrique) | Mile stone |
| Boulonnerie | Bolt Factory |
| Fabe de boulons | Bolt Factory |
| Bouee | Bouy |
| Brasserie, Brassie | Brewery |
| Briqueterie, Briqie | Brickfield |
| Brise-lames | Breakwater |
| Bureau de poste | Post office |
| Bureau de douane | Custom house |
| Butte | Butt, Mound |
| Cabane | Hut |
| Cabaret, Cabt | Inn |
| Cable sous-marin | Submarine cable |
| Calvaire, Calve | Calvary |
| Canal de dessechement | Drainage canal |
| Fabe de caoutchouc | Rubber factory |
| Carriere, Carre | Quarry |
| Carriere de gravier | Gravel-pit |
| Caserne | Barracks |
| Champ de courses | Race-course |
| Champ de manoeuvres | Drill-ground |
| Champ de tir | Rifle range |
| Chantier | Building yard |
| Ship yard | |
| Dock yard | |
| Chantier de construction | Slip-way |
| Chapelle, Chlle | Chapel |
| Charbonnage | Colliery |
| Chateau d'eau | Water tower |
| Chaussee | Causeway |
| Highway | |
| Chemin de fer | Railway |
| Cheminee, Chnee | Chimney |
| Chene | Oak tree |
| Cimetiere, Cimre | Cemetery |
| Clocher | Belfry |
| Clouterie | Nail factory |
| Colombier | Dove-cot |
| Coron | Workmen's dwellings |
| Cour des marchandises | Goods yard |
| Cour aux marchandises | Goods yard |
| Couvent | Convent |
| Crassier | Slag heap |
| Croix | Cross |
| Darse | Inner dock |
| Demoli - e | Destroyed |
| Detruit - e, Dett-e | Destroyed |
| Deversoir | Weir |
| Digue | Dyke, causeway |
| Distillerie, Distie | Distillery |
| Douane | Custom-house |
| Bureau de douane | Custom-house |
| Entrepot de douane | Custome warehouse |
| Dynamitiere, Dynamre | Dynamite magazine |
| Dynamiterie | Dynamite factory |
| Ecluse | Sluice, Lock |
| Eclusette, Eclte | Sluice |
| Ecole | School |
| Ecurie | Stable |
| Eglise | Church |
| Emaillerie | Enamel works |
| Embarcadere, Embre | Landing-place |
| Estaminet, Estamt | Inn |
| Etang | Pond |
| Fabrique, Fabe | Factory |
| Fabe de produits chimiques | Chemical works |
| Fabe de faience | Pottery |
| Faiencerie | Pottery |
| Ferme, Fme | Farm |
| Filature, Filre | Spinning mill |
| Fonderie, Fondie | Foundry |
| Fontaine, Fontne | Spring, fountain |
| Foret | Forest |
| Forme de radoub | Dry dock |
| Forge | Smithy |
| Fosse | Mine, Pit |
| Fosse | Moat, Ditch |
| Four | Kiln |
| Four a chaux | Lime-kiln |
| Four a coke | Coke oven |
| Genterie | Glove Factory |
| Gare | Station |
| Garenne | Warren |
| Garnison | Garrison |
| Gazometre | Gasometer |
| Glacerie | Mirror Factory |
| Fabe de glaces | Mirror Factory |
| Glaciere | Ice factory |
| Grue | Crane |
| Gue | Ford |
| Guerite | Sentry-boc, Turret |
| Guerite a siguaux | Signal-box (Ry.) |
| Halte | Halt |
| Hangar | Shed, Hangar |
| Hopital | Hospital |
| Hotel-de-Ville | Town hall |
| Houillere | Colliery |
| Huilerie | Oil factory |
| Imprimerie, Imprie | Printing works |
| Jetee | Pier |
| Laminerie | Rolling mills |
| Ligne de haute maree | High water mark |
| Laisse de haute maree | High water mark |
| Laisse de basse maree | Low water mark |
| Maison Forestiere, Mon. Fre. | Forester's house |
| Malterie | Malt-house |
| Marbrerie | Marble works |
| Marais | Marsh |
| Marais salant | Saltern, Salt marsh |
| Marche | Market |
| Mare | Pool |
| Meule | Rick |
| Miniere | Mine |
| Monastere | Monastery |
| Moulin, Min | Mill |
| Moulin a vapeur | Steam mill |
| Mur | Wall |
| Mur crenele | Loop-holed wall |
| Nacelle | Ferry |
| Orme | Elm |
| Orphelinat | Orphanage |
| Oseraies | Osier-beds |
| Ouvrage | Fort |
| Ouvrages hydrauliques | Water works |
| Papeterie | Paper-mill |
| Parc | Park, yard |
| Parc aerostatique | Aviation ground |
| Parc a charbon | Coal yard |
| Parc a petrole | Petrol store |
| Passage a niveau P.N. | Level-crossing |
| Passerelle, Paslle | Foot-bridge |
| Pepiniere | Nursery-garden |
| Peuplier | Poplar tree |
| Phare | Light-house |
| Pilier, Pilr | Post |
| Plaine d'exercice | Drill ground |
| Pompe | Pump |
| Ponceau | Culvert |
| Pont | Bridge |
| Pont levis | Drawbridge |
| Poste de garde-cote | Coast-guard station |
| Station de garde-cote | Coast-guard station |
| Poteau, Pau | Post |
| Poterie | Pottery |
| Poudriere, Poudre | Powder magazine |
| Magasin a poudre | Powder magazine |
| Prise d'eau | Water supply |
| Puits | Pit-head, Shalt, Well |
| Puits artesien | Artesian well |
| Puits d'aerage | Ventilating shaft |
| Puits ventilateur | Ventilating shaft |
| Puits de sondage | Boring |
| Quai | Quay, Platform |
| Quai aux bestiaux | Cattle platform |
| Quai aux marchandises | Goods platform |
| Quai des marchandises | Goods platform |
| Raccordement | Junction |
| Raffinerie | Refinery |
| Raffinerie de sucre | Sugar refinery |
| Raperie | Beet-root factory |
| Remblai | Embankment |
| Remise des Machines | Engine-shed |
| Remise aux Machines | Engine-shed |
| Reservoir, Resr | Reservoir |
| Route cavaliere | Bridle road |
| Rubanerie | Ribbon Factory |
| Ruine | Ruin |
| Ruines | Ruin |
| En ruine | Ruin |
| Ruine - e | Ruin |
| Sabliere | Sand-pit |
| Sablonniere, sablonre | Sand-pit |
| Sapin | Fir tree |
| Saule | Willow tree |
| Saunerie | Salt-works |
| Scierie, Scie | Saw-mill |
| Sondage | Boring |
| Source | Spring |
| Sucrerie, Sucie | Sugar factory |
| Tannerie | Tannery |
| Tir a la cible | Rifle range |
| Tissage | Weaving mill |
| Tolerie | Tomb |
| Tour | Tower |
| Tourbiere | Peat-bog, Peat-bed |
| Tourelle | Small tower |
| Tuilerie | Tile works |
| Usine a gaz | Gas works |
| Usine electrique | Electricity works |
| Usine d'electricite | Electricity works |
| Usine metallurgique | Metal works |
| Usine a agglomeres | Briquette factory |
| Verrerie, Verrie | Glass works |
| Viaduc | Viaduct |
| Vivier | Fish Pond |
| Voie de chargement | Siding |
| Voie de dechargement | Siding |
| Voie d'evitement | Siding |
| Voie de formation | Siding |
| Voie de manoeuvre | Siding |
| Zinguerie | Zinc works |
