coureur de bois
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A French Canadian trapper: A historical term referring to a French Canadian woodsman, fur trader, and explorer who lived and worked in the forests of North America, often among Indigenous peoples.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The coureur de bois played a vital role in the North American fur trade.
- Legends often depict the coureur de bois as a rugged individualist skilled in wilderness survival.
Advanced Usage
- The term is used historically and is often capitalized: .
- The museum exhibit detailed the life of a typical Coureur de bois in the 18th century.
Variants and Related Words
- Voyageur (n): Another term for a French Canadian boatman and fur trader, often working for a company, whereas a typically operated independently.
- The voyageurs transported furs by canoe, while the coureurs de bois often acquired them directly in the interior.
Synonyms
- Trapper: A person who traps wild animals, especially for their fur.
- Frontiersman: A man living on the frontier of settled territory.
- Woodsman: A person skilled in living or working in the woods.
Related Phrases
- Fur trader: A person involved in the business of trading animal furs.
- The coureur de bois was essentially an independent fur trader.
Related Idioms
Noun
- a French Canadian trapper