Turlupin, a French word originating from the 17th century, is spelled in a way that may seem confusing to non-French speakers. Using IPA phonetic transcription, the word can be broken down into [tyʁ.ly.pɛ̃]. The "t" at the beginning is pronounced, followed by the "u" and "r" blending together to create the "y" sound. The "l" and "u" sounds are also fused, creating the "ly" sound. The final "in" sound is pronounced with a nasal "n" sound. Despite its tricky spelling, Turlupin refers to a type of French clown or buffoon.
The word "Turlupin" comes from the French language. It originated from a movement called the "Turlupins", which was active in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Turlupins were a sect that emerged in Flanders (now Belgium) and later spread to France and other parts of Europe.
The etymology of "Turlupin" is not entirely clear, but there are a few theories. One theory suggests that it may have derived from the Old French word "turlupiner", meaning to hound or harass. This could refer to the sect's social behavior, which was seen as unorthodox and chaotic by the Church authorities.
Another theory proposes that "Turlupin" could be a corruption of the Latin phrase "Turba luporum", which translates to "a pack of wolves".