Louche

WORD OF THE DAY

louche / adjective / LOOSH 

Definition

: not reputable or decent

Examples

"Here, he's just a dude, with an earring and a motorcycle, a dude who wears jeans to military court. Freeman's best when he's not trying to win re-election or standing at the Pearly Gates, when he's just a guy slouching in dungarees, looking a little louche." 

— Wesley Morris, The New York Times, 30 Apr. 2020

"On 7 May, for one week only, it released a modern-dress version of Antony and Cleopatra set in a series of strategy rooms, conference centres and five-star hotel suites. The lovestruck Roman was played by a louche, gruff, brooding Ralph Fiennes." 

— Lloyd Evans, The Spectator (UK), 16 May 2020

Did You Know?

Louche ultimately comes from the Latin word luscus, meaning "blind in one eye" or "having poor sight." This Latin term gave rise to the French louche, meaning "squinting" or "cross-eyed." 

The French gave their term a figurative sense as well, taking that squinty look to mean "shady" or "devious." 

English speakers didn't see the need for the sight-impaired uses when they borrowed the term in the 19th century, but they kept the figurative one. 

The word is still quite visible today and is used to describe both people and things of questionable repute.