Brewer's: Jonc

(French). A wedding-ring; so called because those who were married by compulsion at Ste. Marine wore rings of jonc or straw.

“C'est dans l'église de Ste. Marine que l'on marie ceux que l'on condamne á s'épouser. Anciennement on les mariait avec un anneau de paille; etait-ce pour marquer au mari que la vertu de celle qu'il épousalt était bien fragile?” —Dulaure.

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