vivandière

[vee-vahn-dyair, vee-vahn-dyer]

noun

1. a woman who formerly followed an army or maintained a store on an army post to sell provisions to the soldiers.

vivandière

/ vivɑ̃djɛr /

noun

1. (formerly) a female sutler or victualler offering extra provisions and spirits to soldiers, esp those of the French and British armies

Word History and Origins

Origin of vivandière¹

First recorded in 1845–50; from French vivandière, feminine of vivandier, from Italian (masculine) vivandiere “sutler”; viand ( def. ), -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of vivandière¹

C16: see _viand