bonne fortunen.
/ˌbɒn fɔːˈt(j)uːn/, U.S. /ˌbɑn fɔrˈtun/ Now chiefly historical.
In singular or plural. Success in romantic or sexual relations with women, esp. considered as a source of pride by a man.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > love-token or love-gift > lady's token worn or carried by a knight > lady's favours as thing to boast of
bonne fortune1697
1697 Duke of Shrewsbury Let. 20 Sept. in C. Cole Mem. Affairs State (1733) 3 Besides the good fortune as a Publick Minister, I wish you the private bonnes Fortunes of a young Man.
1723 J. Hervey Let. 24 Apr. in Let.-bks. J. Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol (1894) II. 270 To be happy in all the bonne-fortunes the rest of your sex have to bestow.
1753 S. Johnson Adventurer No. 98. 164 I am a cursed favourite amongst them; and have had ‘bonne fortune’ let me tell you.
1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XIV lxiv. 147 'Tis best to pause, and think..If that a ‘bonne fortune’ be really ‘bonne’.
1825 H. Wilson Mem. I. 314 Beauclerc was, in due time, tired of his bonne fortune.
1900 Country Life Illustr. 20 Jan. 85/2 The young woman had bestowed her favours upon others, including one who was not given to boasting of his bonnes fortunes.
1968 Times Lit. Suppl. 27 June 674/2 ‘Bonnes fortunes’ are not the exclusive privilege of the Macheath type.
1999 National Interest (Nexis) Fall Chateaubriand, who was an energetic womanizer, handled the sex bit in his memoirs by saying that delicacy forbade mentioning his bonnes fortunes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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