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

Example Sentences

In 1986, in Trenton, N.J., he offered a memorable performance — exciting and precise — in the 19th-century French style in “La Vivandière.”

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At the Opera Comique ‘La Vivandiere’ will be given, and at the Trianon Lyrique ‘The Daughter of the Regiment.’

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The latter were bestowed upon the French vivandière.

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By the way, is not this the regiment that boasts the pretty vivandiere?

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"There's coolness for you, Tiernay," said the colonel; "think what the 22d are made of when their vivandiere dares to do this."

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