colporteur
[kol-pawr-ter, -pohr-; French kawl-pawr-tœr]
- a person who travels to sell or publicize Bibles, religious tracts, etc.
- a peddler of books.
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Origin of colporteur
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for colporteur
Historical Examples
“I take but the proper price,” answered the colporteur, returning most of them to him.
Count Ulrich of LindburgW.H.G. Kingston
On a shelf in a corner lay the Bible which the family had received from the colporteur.
In the Track of the TroopsR.M. Ballantyne
But these are not my words,” said the colporteur, “they are the words of God.
In the Track of the TroopsR.M. Ballantyne
It was found to correspond exactly with that of the colporteur!
In the Track of the TroopsR.M. Ballantyne
When they had finished, the colporteur said: "It is good to pray, I believe!"
On the SeaboardAugust Strindberg
colporteur
- a hawker of books, esp bibles
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Word Origin
C18: from French, from colporter, probably from Old French comporter to carry (see comport); influenced through folk etymology by porter à col to carry on one's neck
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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