Literal Translation
In onion rank
Actual Meaning
In a line
Etymology
The expression originates from Artus de la Fontaine-Solaro, Baron of Oignon and Lord of Vaumoise, Grand Master of Ceremonies under the French kings Henry II, Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. He performed his duties in particular during the Estates General, which were held twice, in 1576 and 1588, at the Château de Blois. His role was that of chief of protocol, and he was responsible for assigning seats to the lords and deputies present according to their rank.
In addition, the Baron of Oignon was in the habit of shouting: ‘Close your ranks, gentlemen, close your ranks.’
The dignitaries then mocked these ‘ranks of Oignon’. Charles Rozan gives this explanation in his Petites ignorances de la langue française (1856).