petroleur

See also: pétroleur

English

Etymology

French pétroleur

Noun

petroleur (plural petroleurs)

1. One who lights fires with petrol, especially (historical) a revolutionary who attacked public buildings in this way in Paris in 1871.
   • 1872, John Furley, Struggles and Experiences of a Neutral Volunteer:

     Caution was necessary in moving about, the pavement had to be avoided, as the impression conveyed to the mind of the sentry, if he saw anyone near a house, was that it must be a petroleur or a petroleuse.

   • 1877, quoted in 1990, Walter Boehlich, The Letters of Sigmund Freud to Eduard Silberstein, 1871-1881#

     In times like these one is tempted to turn into a petroleur.

   • 2018, Imbert De Saint-Amand, Marie Antoinette and the Downfall of Royalty, page 167:

     The work of the incendiaries of 1792 was only to be finished by the petroleurs of 1871. Night was come. A great number of the Parisian population were groaning, but the revolutionists triumphed with joy.

Anagrams

• poulterer