poilu

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French poilu (“brave”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈpwɑːluː]

Noun

poilu (plural poilus)

(historical) A French infantryman during the First World War

Anagrams

oil up

French

Etymology

From poil +‎ -u; compare Spanish peludo. The figurative sense entered the language through French military slang.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /pwa.ly/
audio (file)

Adjective

poilu (feminine singular poilue, masculine plural poilus, feminine plural poilues)

(informal) hairy
Synonym: velu
(dated, figuratively) brave, courageous; energetic [late 19th c.]

Synonyms

(courageous): courageux

Noun

poilu m (plural poilus)

(historical) poilu (French soldier during World War I)

Further reading

“poilu” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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