voyageur

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

noun,plural vo·ya·geurs

[vwah-yah-zhurz, voi-uh-; French vwa-ya-zhœr]. /ˌvwɑ yɑˈʒɜrz, ˌvɔɪ ə-; French vwa yaˈʒœr/.

(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.

Origin of voyageur

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

Words that may be confused with voyageur

voyager, voyageur

Words Nearby voyageur

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

How to use voyageur in a sentence

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.
The Best Hipcamp for Every National Park | Emily Pennington | May 19, 2021 | 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.
The Most Dog-Friendly National Parks in the U.S. | Emily Pennington | May 7, 2021 | 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.
Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward White
For instance, in some parts of the Hudson's Bay territory, the voyageur is allowed eight pounds of buffalo-meat per diem!
Popular Adventure Tales | Mayne Reid
He copied steadily in his beautiful commis voyageur handwriting until two o'clock.
The Devourers | Annie Vivanti Chartres

Not less than nine miles of the coast, agreeably to voyageur estimates, are thus characterized by dunes.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 | Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
We were two days and a part of a night in making the descent, with every appliance of voyageur craft.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 | Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

British Dictionary definitions for voyageur

voyageur

/ (ˌvɔɪəˈdʒɜː) /

nounCanadian

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

Origin of voyageur

C19: from French: traveller, from voyager to voyage

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

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