A passerelle over a branch of the Yvette, a small river running through Chevreuse, a historic village 28 km southwest of Paris. Its name evokes land of chèvres or chevreuils. Founded in 9th century, the village was originally named Cavrosa, from the Latin Caper or Capra, signifying goat. During the Middle Ages this water course was called la rivière au tanneurs because it was used by a tannery for the production of kidskin parchment, an important necessity for the functioning of the ecclesiastical lordships.
In the 1930's and 1940's the name Yvette, the feminine diminutive of Yves was the fifth most popular name given to baby girls in France. Today it is rarely chosen; statistics show for example that in 2003 only five babies born in France were named Yvette.
Vocabulary
un chevreau: a young goat
la peau de chevreau: kidskin
un chevreuil: a deer
le parchemin: parchment
une tannerie: a tannery
un tanneur: a tanner
une passerelle: a footbridge
©2012 P.B. Lecron
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