It comes from way before French. Some tribe, Celts, or whatever, call them Gauls, although it doesn't really mean anything other that "people who live in that area according to the Romans", counted in twenties. And that's one of the things they've left us. For better or for worse.
One of my cats (orange girl) is a bright and fearless explorator, the other one (black boy) is a super cautious idiot that won't go anywhere unless the ground has been cleared by the first. If a comfy place has been discovered, the black one will shamelessly steal it from the orange one which will then search for another place (which will likely be stolen in turn).
They're also both cuddle monsters that require nightly belly rubs.
Why would anyone need to draw a circle though?