poilu
Americannoun
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:
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
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
When War broke out Pierre Laval was drafted, entered the army as a common poilu, saw actual service at the front.
From Time Magazine Archive
The poilu moved back to the ranks steadily, but as soon as the general had turned his back the sergeant pulled out his handkerchief and wept.
From The A.E.F. With General Pershing and the American Forces by Broun, Heywood
Division after division moved into the Limes Line, there to face the French poilus long ago shoved into the Maginot Line.
From Time Magazine Archive
On the Rhine they stood with German officers in full view of poilus on the other side fishing, sawing wood, washing clothes.
From Time Magazine Archive
When the World War broke out, Mr. MacWhite was prodded and hustled out of a French railway car at Lyons, so that the car might be used to rush poilus to the front.
From Time Magazine Archive
The spectacle of the franc at a fifth of its pre-War value is as pitiful a sight as the War-maimed poilus one encounters in the streets!
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.
