caisse noire
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French[edit]
Etymology[edit]
The term dates from the first half of the 19th century, stemming from near-clandestine efforts by railway workers at improvised health insurance, for which they would pass around a black crate, to which each worker would contribute.
See the French Wikipedia article for more information.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
caisse noire f (plural caisses noires)
- slush fund (money stored for illegal or dishonest purposes)
Descendants[edit]
- →? German: schwarze Kasse (calque)