vivandière

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

/ ˌvi vɑnˈdyɛər; French vi vɑ̃ˈdyɛr /

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noun

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

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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, vivax malaria, vive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

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