coureur de bois

[ koo-rœr duh bwah ]

noun

, French.

, plural cou·reurs de bois [koo-, r, œ, r, d, uh, , bwah].

1. a French or French-Indian trapper of North America, especially of Canada.

coureur de bois

/ kurœr də bwa /

noun

1. Canadian history a French Canadian woodsman or Métis who traded with Indians for furs

Word History and Origins

Origin of coureur de bois¹

Literally, “runner, hunter of (the) woods”

Word History and Origins

Origin of coureur de bois¹

Canadian French: trapper (literally: wood-runner)

Example Sentences

Priest and seigneur, habitant and coureur-de-bois were one and all difficult to fit into accepted English ways.

From Project Gutenberg

Jacques Morand, the coureur de bois, was in love with Genevieve Parent, but she disliked him and wished only to serve the church.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet it would be false coloring to paint the half-savage coureur de bois as a romantic lover of nature.

From Project Gutenberg

I was prepared to encounter the other coureur-de-bois, and there he was, ferret-face peering and sniffing at us as we approached.

From Project Gutenberg

The outfit of a cibolero, who is usually also a coureur de bois, is very simple.

From Project Gutenberg