poilu

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French poilu (“brave”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈpwɑːluː]

Noun

poilu (plural poilus)

1. (historical) A French infantryman during the First World War

Anagrams

• oil up

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French

Etymology

From poil +‎ -u; compare Spanish peludo. The figurative sense entered the language through French military slang.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pwa.ly/

• audio:

  (file)

Adjective

poilu (feminine poilue, masculine plural poilus, feminine plural poilues)

1. (informal) hairy

   Synonym: velu

2. (dated, figurative) brave, courageous; energetic [late 19th c.]

Synonyms

• (courageous): courageux

Noun

poilu m (plural poilus)

1. (historical) poilu (French soldier during World War I)

Further reading

• “poilu”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.