voyageur

[ vwah-yah-zhur, voi-uh-; French vwa-ya-zhœr ]

noun

, plural vo·ya·geurs [vwah-yah-, zhurz, voi-, uh, -, vw, a, -y, a, -, zhœr].

1. (in Canada) a person who is an expert woodsman, boatman, and guide in remote regions, especially one employed by fur companies to transport supplies to and from their distant stations.

voyageur

/ ˌvɔɪəˈdʒɜː /

noun

1. history a boatman employed by one of the early fur-trading companies, esp in the interior
2. a woodsman, guide, trapper, boatman, or explorer, esp in the North

Word History and Origins

Origin of voyageur¹

1785–95; < French: traveler, equivalent to voyag ( er ) to travel (derivative of voyage journey; voyage ) + -eur -eur

Word History and Origins

Origin of voyageur¹

C19: from French: traveller, from voyager to voyage

Example Sentences

Just under an hour from stunning Voyageurs, the sites also have access to a toilet, fire ring, picnic tables, and a real-deal tire swing.

From Outside Online

As one of the few water-based national parks in the system, it may seem counterintuitive to bring your pup along for the ride up to Voyageurs, but dogs are allowed in all front-country campgrounds within the park and on private boats.

From Outside Online

The only spot of colour in his costume was the flaming red sash of the voyageur which he passed twice around his waist.

From Project Gutenberg

For instance, in some parts of the Hudson's Bay territory, the voyageur is allowed eight pounds of buffalo-meat per diem!

From Project Gutenberg

He copied steadily in his beautiful commis voyageur handwriting until two o'clock.

From Project Gutenberg

Not less than nine miles of the coast, agreeably to voyageur estimates, are thus characterized by dunes.

From Project Gutenberg

We were two days and a part of a night in making the descent, with every appliance of voyageur craft.

From Project Gutenberg