French word

godille

Pronunciation

IPA/godij/

Meaning

  • feminine nounshort turn

Example

Sur la piste, elle fait la godille.

On the slope, she makes short turns.

Illustration for godille (short turn)

More examples

Il utilise la godille pour manœuvrer le canot.

He uses sculling to maneuver the canoe.

Core concept

A skier or boat traces a chain of tight arcs, with each small curve gently shifting the heading.

Similar words

tournant: A bend or corner on a road or course.
virage: A single turn made to change direction.

Definition in French

Désigne une manœuvre de petites courbes rapprochées permettant un changement de cap ou de direction, employé tant en navigation qu'en ski pour évoquer un « petit virage » répété.

Word origin

Godille comes from the nautical verb godiller, which named steering a small boat with repeated strokes of one oar before the term gained its skiing use.

Usage tips

  • Godille is feminine, so the noun takes une and la: une godille and la godille, never un godille or le godille.

Other meanings

  • scullingnoun

Opposites

  • ligne droitestraight linenoun

Word lists with this word