Etymograph

English

puzzel

Puzzel may come from French pucelle ‘a virgin’.

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentpucelle1‘a virgin’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1591puzzel1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English puzzel
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: c. 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI: “Pucelle or puzzel, Dolphin or dogfish, / Your hearts…”.

Earlier history uncertain. See Wiktionary.

Lineage

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentpucelleWiktionary, English puzzel‘a virgin’uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation c. 1591puzzelWiktionary, English puzzel. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: c. 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI: “Pucelle or puzzel, Dolphin or dogfish, / Your hearts…”

The story

Possibly due to English propaganda against Joan of Arc who was also known as La Pucelle ("The Virgin; The Maid"). Possibly influenced by English pizzle (‘penis’).

Full etymology on Wiktionary

Every English word from French pucelle

Today it means

noun A harlot; a hussy.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “puzzel”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / French pucelle / puzzel

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