voyageur

English

Etymology

From Canadian French (below)

Noun

voyageur (plural voyageurs)

1. (historical) A trader, particularly in furs, who worked (and explored) in the area of Canada and the northern United States from the 16th to early 19th centuries; they were often of Quebecois extraction.

   Synonyms: canoeman, engagee

   Hyponym: hivernant

   • 1847, George Frederick Augustus Ruxton, Adventures in Mexico and the Rocky Mountains (page 267)

     The powers of the Canadian voyageurs and hunters in the consumption of meat strike the greenhorn with wonder and astonishment; and are only equalled by the gastronomical capabilities exhibited by Indian dogs, both following the same plan in their epicurean gorgings.

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vwa.ja.ʒœʁ/

• audio

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Noun

voyageur m (plural voyageurs, feminine voyageuse)

1. traveller

Derived terms

• physe voyageuse
• pigeon voyageur
• tourte voyageuse

Related terms

• voyage
• voyager

Descendants

• → Romanian: voiajor

Further reading

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