coureur de bois

noun

cou·​reur de bois ku̇-ˌrər-də-ˈbwä How to pronounce coureur de bois (audio)
plural coureurs de bois ku̇-ˌrər-də-ˈbwä How to pronounce coureur de bois (audio)
: a French or métis trapper of North America and especially of Canada

Word History

Etymology

Canadian French, literally, woods runner

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coureur de bois was in 1700

Dictionary Entries Near coureur de bois

cour d'honneur

coureur de bois

courge

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Coureur de bois.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coureur%20de%20bois. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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