french

III. French² BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: frencisc, from Latin Franca 'Frank'; ⇨ ↑frank¹]
1. the French [plural] people from France
2. [uncountable] the language used in France, and some other countries:
How do you ask for directions in French?
3. pardon/excuse my French spoken used to say sorry for swearing

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

noun
the language of France and some other countries
Word Origin:

[French] Old English Frencisc, of Germanic origin.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

French / frentʃ / noun [ U ]

the language that people speak in France, Belgium, parts of Canada and other countries
the French [ plural ]
the people of France

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

French

²French noun
1 [noncount] : the language of the French people
• learned to speak French
2 the French : the people of France : French people
• the customs of the French
pardon my French