DCHP-3

parchment canoe

Obs.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a temporary boat consisting of a frame covered with parchment (def. 2), often used by Indians who, at the end of their trip, removed the skins and sold them to traders.

See: bull boat,parchment(def. 2)

Quotations

1754
The Indian Men made temporary Canoes of Willows, covered with parchment Moose skins.
1801
I gave Fallardeau (the free man) two Parchment Skins to make a Canoe with to drive down the Red River.
1858
These great prairie-rivers are generally crossed and often descended in "bull-boats" or "parchment canoes" by the Indians, for great distances.