vivandière

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

/ ˌvi vɑnˈdyɛər; French vi vɑ̃ˈdyɛr /

Save This Word!

noun

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

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of vivandière

First recorded in 1845–50; from French vivandière, feminine of vivandier, from Italian (masculine) vivandiere “sutler”; see also viand, -ier²

Words nearby vivandière

vivace, vivacious, vivacity, Vivaldi, Vivaldi, Antonio, vivandière, vivarium, viva voce, vivax malaria, vive, Vivekananda

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use vivandière in a sentence

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
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
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
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]

He bowed to her with the old grace of manner that had so amused and amazed the little vivandiere.
Under Two Flags|Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

British Dictionary definitions for vivandière

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