Pronunciation: [ʃɪkˈe͡ɪn] (IPA) 
The word chicane is pronounced /ʃɪˈkeɪn/. It is a word of French origin that means to deceive or trick someone. The spelling of chicane can be tricky because of the silent "e" at the end. This silent letter changes the pronunciation of the word from /ʃɪˈkæn/ to /ʃɪˈkeɪn/. In racing, a chicane is a series of tight turns designed to slow down the vehicles. In common usage, chicane can also refer to a deceptive act or a contrived obstacle.
Chicane is a noun that refers to a deceptive or tricky maneuver, typically used with the intention of gaining an advantage or cheating in a competition. It can also be used as a verb to describe the act of utilizing deceptive maneuvers or tricks.
In the context of sports or racing, chicane often refers to an artificial obstacle or feature strategically placed along a track or road to force competitors to slow down or alter their course. These obstacles are usually meant to increase the difficulty of the race or to prevent excessive speeds, thus ensuring safety. This term is frequently employed in sports such as Formula 1 or MotoGP, where chicanes are designed to add excitement and challenge to the courses.
Outside of the sporting realm, chicane may also be used metaphorically to describe deceptive or misleading actions taken in other situations. For instance, it can refer to manipulative tactics in negotiations or discussions aimed at gaining an unfair advantage. In this sense, chicane implies the use of cunning, deceit, or trickery to achieve one's goals, often to the detriment of others.
Overall, chicane encompasses the concept of employing clever or devious strategies, whether in a sporting context or in more general circumstances where it involves the element of deceit.
• Mean, or unfair artifices to obscure the truth; trick; sophistry; wrangling.
• To use shifts or artifices.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "chicane" has a quite complex etymology. It originated from the Old French term "chicaner", which referred to the act of seeking legal loopholes, using sophistry, or engaging in deceptive arguments. "Chicaner" itself derived from the word "chicane", meaning "chicane" or "stratagem". The exact origins of the Old French word are uncertain, but some theories suggest it may have come from the Arabic word "shaykhān", meaning "two desert guides" or "two horses running abreast". This sense of two horses running abreast evolved to represent obstacles or narrow passages, which eventually led to the meaning of deception or trickery. The word "chicane" in English took on this meaning around the 1670s, referring to a deceptive argument or an intentional obstruction in a legal context.
