babiche

American  

[buh-beesh] / bəˈbiʃ /

noun

1. (in the Pacific Northwest) cord, thread, or lacings made of rawhide, gut, or sinew, especially for making snowshoes.

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babiche British  

/ bɑːˈbiːʃ /

noun

1. thongs or lacings of rawhide

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Etymology

Origin of babiche

First recorded in 1800–10; from Canadian French (la) babiche, from Mi'kmaq a·papi·č “cord, thread,” diminutive of a·papi from unattested Proto-Algonquian aʔlapa·py(i), aʔlapy- “net” + unattested -a·py- “string”)

Example Sentences

Snares are also set for bears, and the best of them are made of twenty strands of babiche twisted into the form of a rope.

From The Drama of the Forests Romance and Adventure by Heming, Arthur Henry Howard

Kenógami, Mamátawan, Wenebógan, Kapúskasíng, the silver-fox, the sea-otter, the sable, the wolverine, the musk-ox, parka, babiche, tump-line, giddés,—these and others sang like arrows cleaving the atmosphere of commoner words.

From The Silent Places by White, Stewart Edward

Before Kazan recovered from the blow that had stunned him Sandy examined the muzzle and strengthened it by adding another babiche thong.

From Kazan by Curwood, James Oliver

The hair was worn short at their flanks, and one still dragged after him three feet of corded babiche trace.

From Kazan by Curwood, James Oliver

He set some babiche to soak for mending his snowshoes.

From Cat and Mouse by Dongen, H. R. van