canoeman

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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1n. — Hist.

one of the canoemen or boatmen, usually a French Canadian, Orkneyman, Indian, or Métis, who crewed the vessels of the inland fur trade.

See: voyageur(def. 1a)

Quotations

1703

. . . the canoe-men sometimes ply on their knees. . . .

1824

. . . the Canoe men [got] to an opening in the last point over which is a Portage. . . .

1963

At the settlement . . . there was little difficulty in recruiting Indian canoemen for the next leg of their journey to Ottawa.

2n.

any person skilled in handling a canoe.

1849

Our canoe was "set up" with difficulty, though our canoe men . . . were very powerful with the pole.

1953

My canoemen . . . were John Panayshees, Jimmie Kenozha Peter. . . .