poilu
noun
a French common soldier.
poilus
-
pluralof poilu.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
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
Leaving Cherbourg through a driving rain for their Paris Decennial, the legionaries were saluted by poilus stationed every ten feet for nearly two miles along the railway tracks.
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
Next spring, no one will remember any longer the dead leaves or the killed poilus.
From Time Magazine Archive
For their part, the poilus must have heard rumors of an evacuation.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
