In Stephenson's Quicksilver, what does the word "l'emmerdeur" mean?

Question

In Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver, the character Jack Shaftoe acquires the sobriquet "L'Emmerdeur." I can't find this word in any French dictionaries, although there was a movie made by that title in the 1970s. Does anyone know what the word means? Thanks!

Answer 1

I thought it meant something like rapscallion

Answer 2

It means "The bloody nuisance". At least that is what it translates to word for word, but sometimes sayings don't translate exactly and those might be the words but the saying means something else. So, if this doesn't make sense then hat might be the case. I have never read the book so I don't know. I hope this helps!

Answer 3

I think it means "one who soils/dishonors/brings down (someone)". The literal translation would be "one who plunges (someone) into excrement".
Not a nice picture, n'est ce pas?

Answer 4

putting it nicely- a person who annoys you.
really, really annoys you.
I seriously insist on the really, really annoying bit.
something like a skunk being smelly...

Answer 5

A pain in the ***...