A New Word, A French Lesson
ga-vage [guh–vahzh; Fr. ga–vazh] – noun, forced feeding, as by a flexible tube and a force pump.
[Ferret and Wilder are talking as Wilder writes down his phone number in Ferret‘s book. Ferret suddenly interjects.]
Ferret
Oh, there’s a new word I learned today. I think it’s French.
[Ferret points to the word “gavage” written in his book. Wilder‘s eyes bulge and he snickers.]
Wilder
Oh yes, that’s French.
Ferret
Yeah.
WIlder
Oh, you know what it means, right?
Ferret
Well, yeah.
[Ferret ponders the meaning of Wilder‘s smile.]
Ferret
I mean it can be used sexually, right?
Wilder
[incredulous]
What?
Ferret
Well, you know. I thought it could be used sexually as well.
Wilder
Well, not unless you’re doing it with a duck! Or one of those… what’s it called in English? The thing you use to make foie gras?
Ferret
A goose.
Wilder
Yeah. A goose.
Ferret
Oh, I just thought there’d be some dirty saying with it.
Wilder
Look, not everything in French has to do with sex.
Ferret
Haha, okay.