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Chouayen
[< Cdn F; see 1904 quote]
Hist.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
n.
a derogatory name given to the French-Canadian supporters of the British governing group in Lower Canada.
Quotations
1848
The province, by this time, from the agitation that had arisen, was divided into two distinct parties . . . the one set characterising their opponents by the odious cant terms of “anti-canadiens, choyens, or anglais”--those of “frenchmen, democrats, boutefeus,” being as freely and indeed angrily bestowed in return by the other class.
1904
As to those of the French Canadians who sided with the Bureaucrats and l’oligarchie, they were dubbed Chouayens. The origin of the word is thus explained: At the taking of Oswego, called Chouagen, by the French led by Montcalm, some militiamen deserted, and were afterwards called Chouauens. . . . Etienne Parent was the first to apply this soubriquet to those pusillanimous or cowardly countrymen who refused to follow Papineau.