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parfleche
< Cdn F parflèche < F parer parry + flèche arrow, from its use as a shield
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
1an.
a sheet of rawhide, especially buffalo hide, from which the hair has been removed.
See: parchmentdef. 2
Quotations
1827
. . . we embarked with crews and cargoes as follows: viz . . .1 pack Parfleches . . . .
1830
[There is] also the necessity while the Buffaloes are fat to make appichimons[,] Parfleches & Lodges so as to make themselves independent. . . .
1957
He found another squaw pounding and stretching a parfleche to soften it. . .
1bn. — Figurative use.
Quotations
1957
The old man's face was a parfleche of seams.
2n.
a container made from a sheet of rawhide, usually buffalo hide, folded into a kind of envelope and laced to make an efficient bag.
Quotations
1829
Copy of Requisition forwarded to Mr J Work . . . 60 Parfleches [saddle bags]. . . .
1887
A real parfleche is merely a hide, with holes punched all round its edges, into which all your small oddments are bundled. . . .
1929
A horse was worth about twenty made-beaver; a good robe, two; a dressed hide, one; a parfleche full of fine fat, dried buffalo ribs and bosses weighing around forty pounds, one made beaver. . . .
1963
But in the lodges that are entered for the best tipi contest, the traditional prevails and here are to be seen priceless treasures; decorated parfleches (rawhide bags made something like an envelope). . . .
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