poilu
Americannoun
-
poilus
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of poilu
1910–15; < French, in earlier slang: tough individual, tough, brave, literally, hairy, haired; Middle French, Old French pelu ( cf. plew) < Vulgar Latin *pilūtus, equivalent to Latin pil ( us ) hair + Vulgar Latin *-ūtus, for Latin -ātus -ate 1 ( e > oi by influence of poil hair < Latin pilus )
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.
See Examples For:
The Government is considering a proposal to issue 25-centime postage stamps bearing the figure of a French poilu.
From Time Magazine Archive
In World War II, Father Bruckberger enlisted as a poilu, later volunteered for the French Commandos.
From Time Magazine Archive
Similarly they say that a poilu stamp would be a testimonial to heroes who have no equal in the wide world.
From Time Magazine Archive
In modern France some garrison commanders punish with two days in "clink" a poilu found playing with a Yo-Yo, consider it a menace to discipline.
From Time Magazine Archive
"They will not attack," a poilu gave it as his decision, and very decidedly.
From With Joffre at Verdun A Story of the Western Front by Archibald Webb
In Paris, war-weary poilus returning from Syria were greeted at the Gare St. Lazare by stones and boos from an unruly mob which shouted, "Down with Vichy!"
From Time Magazine Archive
Simultaneously some 30,000 French poilus were ordered by President Lebrun to man the elaborate concrete fortifications France has thrown up along her German Frontier.
From Time Magazine Archive
Next spring, no one will remember any longer the dead leaves or the killed poilus.
From Time Magazine Archive
Totally unexpected, M. Maginot, Minister of War and himself a poilu during the War, swooped down upon the camps to inspect the food of the poilus, who, according to Paris smalltalk, are not properly fed.
From Time Magazine Archive
For their part, the poilus must have heard rumors of an evacuation.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
