vivandière

[ vee-vahn-dyair; French vee-vahn-dyer ]

/ ˌvi vɑnˈdyɛər; French vi vɑ̃ˈdyɛr /

noun

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

Nearby words

vivaciously, vivacity, vivaldi, vivaldi, antonio, vivamus, vivandière, vivarium, vivax, vivax malaria, vive, vive le roi

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vivandiere

The heroine of this story is a Virginia girl, who escapes to the North by joining a Union regiment as a vivandiere.
Brother Against Brother|Oliver Optic
"The 22d may indeed be proud of their vivandiere," said De Barre, gallantly.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 15, August, 1851|Various
It was through him that she had become a vivandiere; and she offered me a similar position, if I wished it.
Other People's Money|Emile Gaboriau
Still he was fairly handsome enough not to have muttered so heavy an oath as he did at the vivandiere's jest.
Under Two Flags|Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

Leaning on Gombert's arm, Barbara now moved on more cheerfully until they were stopped by the vivandiere's counter.
Barbara Blomberg, Complete|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for vivandiere

vivandière

/ French (vivɑ̃djɛr) /

noun

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

Word Origin for vivandière

C16: see viand

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