bidonville

noun

bi·don·ville ˌbē-ˌdōⁿ-ˈvēl

: a settlement of jerry-built dwellings on the outskirts of a city (as in France or North Africa)

Word History

Etymology

French, from bidon metal can or drum + ville city

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of bidonville was in 1942

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

bid off

bidonville

bid price

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bidonville.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bidonville. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

schadenfreude

Listen to the pronunciation of schadenfreude

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Popular in Wordplay

9 Superb Owl Words

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Popular Features

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

9 Superb Owl Words

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)