feuilleton
from Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 5, 2008 is: feuilleton • \fuh-yuh-TOHNG (the "ng" is not pronounced, but the preceding vow\ • noun 1 : a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader 2 : a work of fiction printed in installments 3 : a short literary composition often having a familiar tone and reminiscent content Examples: The magazine's June issue includes feuilletons from famous writers on the subject of fathers. Did you know? The feuilleton originated in French newspapers as a supplement sectioned out from the main news stories. Although found in the political section of the newspaper, the feuilleton typically included material on non-political subjects, such as art, literature, or fashion. Fiction was sometimes included as well. The word is a diminutive of the French "feuillet," meaning "sheet of paper," and ultimately derives from Latin "folium," meaning "leaf." From this source English acquired "folio" (which can refer to a page, or leaf, of a book or manuscript) and "foliage" (meaning "a mass of leaves").
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