I used to have a text with a footnote to de Maupassant's use of this word citing it as meaning, roughly, "spirit". However, I have been searching everywhere, and can find no citations in any dictionary, English or French. Is this de Maupassant's own coinage or was it, perhaps, co-opted from some other language, Spanish or Italian for instance? (there's a good mission for you, Dr. Bill!)

Also, here's a more accessible de Maupassant site, bio and story links all on one page:

http://www.classicallibrary.org/maupassant/