cochonnet

The cochonnet is the small target ball used in the French game pétanque and in related boules games. It is typically a small ball made of wood, cork, or plastic, and is colored to be easily visible on the terrain. It is smaller than the playing boules and serves as the reference point for scoring.

In play, the game begins with a player throwing the cochonnet into a selected area of the playing field. Players then throw their boules with the aim of landing closer to the cochonnet than their opponents’ boules. After all boules have been played, points are awarded to the team that has the boule closest to the cochonnet; that team earns a number of points equal to how many of its boules are closer than the opponent’s closest boule. The cochonnet can be moved by a boule during play, in which case its new position is used for scoring.

Etymology and usage: The word cochonnet literally means “little pig” in French. In English-language coverage, the term cochonnet is commonly used, and some contexts also refer to it as the “jack.”

Overall, the cochonnet is a central element of pétanque, functioning as the target around which strategy, skill, and precision in throwing are oriented. Its simple concept—placing all boules as close as possible to the cochonnet—remains consistent across variations of boules games that use a small target ball.