poilu

Borrowed from French poilu (“brave”). Doublet of plew.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpwɑːluː/

poilu (plural poilus)

1. (historical) A French infantryman during the First World War

• oil up

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

• IPA^(key): /pwa.ly/

• Audio:

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

1. (informal) hairy

   Synonym: velu

   Antonym: glabre

2. (dated, figurative) brave, courageous; energetic [late 19th c.]

   Synonym: courageux

poilu m (plural poilus)

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

• “poilu”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.