jalon

jalon

1. Genitive singular form of jalo.

1613, jallon, in an unknown sense; 1690 in gardening; uncertain origin, maybe from jalir, ancient form of jaillir (“to spurt out”).

• IPA^(key): /ʒa.lɔ̃/

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jalon m (plural jalons)

1. a pole marking the border of a field or a road

   Planter des jalons de distance en distance.

   To plant poles from distance to distance.

   Marquer l’alignement d’un terrain avec des jalons.

   Mark the border of a terrain with poles.

2. (figuratively) an idea serving to indicate a direction in a study, a work, etc.

   Ces données vous serviront de jalons pour votre investigation.

   These facts will serve you as a direction for your investigation.

• bornoyer
• marque
• repère
• commencement

• jalonner
• jalonnement
• poser des jalons (“take the first steps for an action, prepare the terrain”)

• “jalon” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).