E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bonhomme (Un).
A goody man; according to Dr. Young’s line, “What is mere good nature, but a fool?” The word, divided into two, is used in a good sense, as Etre un bon homme. Jacques Bonhomme means a peasant.
1
Jacques Bonhomme (French). A peasant who ventures to interfere in politics. Hence, the peasants’ rebellion in 1358 was called La Jacquerie. The term means “James Goodfellow”; we also often address the poor as “My good fellow.”
