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plew

American  
[ploo] / plu /
Or plu

noun

Older Use (in Western U.S. and Canada).
  1. a beaver skin, especially one of prime quality.


plew British  
/ pluː /

noun

  1. (formerly in Canada) a beaver skin used as a standard unit of value in the fur trade

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of plew

1790–1800; < Canadian French pelu; French: noun use of pelu haired, hairy (now obsolete or dial.); see poilu

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I ain’t much o’ a skollur; but I’d stake a pack o’ beaver plew agin a plug o’ Jeemes River, thet this hyur manurscrip wur entended for yurself, an nob’dy else.

From The War Trail The Hunt of the Wild Horse by Reid, Mayne

Thur’s clur ground not fur from us; and I’d stak a plew thur in it.

From The Scalp Hunters by Stewart, F.A.

His braw calf-ward whare gowans grew grazing-plot, daisies Sae white and bonnie, Nae doubt they'll rive it wi' the plew; split They'll ruin Johnie!’

From Robert Burns How To Know Him by Neilson, William Allan

"Thar's no money in beaver at a dollar a plew," commented Hank, watching his partner out of the corner of his eye.

From Bring Me His Ears by Mulford, Clarence E.

Carrambo! it’s fetched beaver down to a plew a plug; while only ten years ago, we could get six pesos the skin!

From The Wild Huntress Love in the Wilderness by Reid, Mayne