It began in the Middle Ages as a payment from peasants to their lords in exchange for protection. By 1439, during the Hundred Years' War, King Charles VII made it a permanent royal tax to fund a standing army.
It is used for garment sizes (S, M, L, XL) and dimensions of objects. Taille
Levied on an individual's total income (common in northern France). It began in the Middle Ages as a
Levied on the value of land ownership (common in southern France). Levied on an individual's total income (common in
In modern French, translates to "size," "height," or "waist," depending on the context.
When describing a person, taille refers to how tall they are (e.g., "Quelle est ta taille ?" for "What is your height?").
Because it was arbitrary and increased steadily over centuries to fund wars, it became a primary grievance cited by revolutionaries. 2. Linguistic Meaning (French Language)