le tressaut
jolt
Definition & meaning
Tressaut is a rare masculine French noun meaning a sudden, involuntary jerk or jolt—a brief, abrupt movement of the body or part of it. It can describe, for example, a sudden movement of someone’s head or a jolt caused by a bump.
It may be confused with tressaute, the third-person singular present form of tressauter (“jerks,” “jolts,” or “starts suddenly”). The standard spelling of that verb form includes a final -e.
Grammar & Word origin
As a noun, tressaut is masculine: un tressaut. It is uncommon; sursaut is more usual in contemporary French.
The noun is related to the verb tressauter , “to jerk or jolt.” Both are associated with saut , meaning “jump” or “leap.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- sursaut — the closest and more common synonym; often refers to a sudden start or reaction, especially from surprise or fear.
- secousse — a jolt or shake, often caused by an external force; less specifically an involuntary bodily movement.
- soubresaut — a sudden jolt or abrupt movement, and sometimes a figurative sudden change.
There is no exact antonym. Depending on context, immobilité (“stillness”) or calme (“calm”) can express an opposite state.
Common phrases & collocations
The noun is rare, so these phrases are more commonly expressed with sursaut or soubresaut .
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Examples
Un tressaut du bus me réveille.noun
A jolt of the bus wakes me up.
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