Browse Entries: P

there are 697 entries under the letter P

P.C.

Progressive Conservative.

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P.L.S.

Provincial Land Surveyor.

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Pacific Coast

that part of Canada bordering on the Pacific Ocean; the West Coast; now, especially, British Columbia.

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Pacific Northwest

that part of North America lying west of the Rockies and north of the Columbia River, especially, in Canada, British Columbia.

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Pacific Province

1 either of two former colonies on the Pacific Coast: British Columbia and Vancouver's Island.

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Pacific railway

the transcontinental railway completed in 1885 and later known as the Canadian Pacific Railway, linking eastern Canada with the Pacific Coast.

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Pacific Scandal

a scandal that engulfed the administration of Sir John A. Macdonald during 1872-3, associated with the charter granted the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.

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Pacific slope

the drainage basin of rivers flowing to the Pacific.

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pacificator justice

in Lower Canada, an unofficial arbitrator working outside the constituted authority during the political unrest of the 1830's.

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pack ((n.))

1a n. a pack of goods or furs weighing about 90 pounds.

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pack ((v.))

1 v. prepare a bale of fur by means of a pack press.

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pack cord

a strong cord, usually of leather, for tying up packs of fur and other large packages.

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pack dog

a dog trained to carry a pack or other burden strapped to his back.

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pack ice 

thick sea ice that has been driven and packed into large masses by winds and currents.

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pack in

carry in one ' s supplies, especially on the back; deliver goods by packing.

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pack line

a kind of harness for carrying heavy loads, drawing on a tracking line, etc., consisting of a leather strap that is broad at the middle and tapers at both ends, the broad band being placed around the forehead (or chest) and the two ends attached to the pack or other load. [See picture at tumpline.]

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pack press

a press used in making up packs (def. lb) of fur. Also packing press.

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pack trip 

an expedition in which all supplies and equipment are packed (def. 2).

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pack-carrying dog

a dog trained to carry a pack or other burden strapped to his back.

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pack-sack citizen

a person who stays in a place for only a short time, living, as it were, out of a packsack.

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pack-trail 

n. a trail used by pack-trains.

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pack-train 

n. a line of animals employed in packing, together with the men in charge.

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package

1 n. a pack of goods or furs weighing about 90 pounds.

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packboard

n. a frame of light metal or wood shaped to fit the back and suspended therefrom by shoulder straps, used for packing loads.

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packer

1a n. a person who transports goods by means of pack horses or mules; one who operates a freighting business using a pack-train.

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packet

1 n. a parcel or package of mail, instructions, business documents, etc. Also spelled pacquet.

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packet box

a strong box used for carrying mail, post records, and other valuables.

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packet carrier

one of the men making up a packet (def. 2).

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packet Indian

an Indian serng as a packet man.

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packet man

n. one of the men making up a packet (def. 2).

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packet party

a party carrying mail and other special deliveries between trading posts by dog-sled, canoe, etc.

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packeteer

n. one of the men making up a packet (def. 2).

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packing

n. the transport of goods on the backs of men or animals.

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packing press

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packman 

n. a person who transports goods on his own back.

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packsack 

n. a sack of strong material used for carrying supplies, personal belongings, etc. when on the trail, usually carried on the back and supported by shoulder straps and, often, a tumpline.

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packstrap

n. a kind of harness for carrying heavy loads, drawing on a tracking line, etc., consisting of a leather strap that is broad at the middle and tapers at both ends, the broad band being placed around the forehead (or chest) and the two ends attached to the pack or other load.

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packy

adj. of snow, of such consistency as to be readily pressed into snowballs.

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pacton

1 n. a small pack of personal belongings rigged for carrying on the back.

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paddle

n. a canoe journey; a spell of paddling, as opposed to lining, portaging, etc.; also, the distance that can be covered by canoe in a specified time.

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paddling song

a chanson sung by the voyageurs, in rhythm with their paddling or rowing.

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Padlock Law

See quotes.

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pagessan

1 n. usually, game of the platter.

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pail smudge

a smudge pot, consisting of a pail filled with burning wood and covered with damp leaves, hay, etc., which sends up clouds of smoke to repel insects.

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paintbrush 

n. any of various wild flowers, Castilleja sp., having bright scarlet to orangey floral bracts.

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painted cup 

any of various wild flowers, Castilleja sp., having bright scarlet to orangey floral bracts.

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painter

n. a large, wild cat, Felis concolor, once common but now confined to southwestern Canada.

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painter's brush 

any of various wild flowers, Castilleja sp., having bright scarlet to orangey floral bracts.

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painter's flower

any of various wild flowers, Castilleja sp., having bright scarlet to orangey floral bracts.

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pale oil

the highest quality of oil rendered from seal blubber.

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pale-faced

adj. white (as opposed to Indian); non-Indian. See note at paleface, n.

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paleface ((adj.)) 

white (as opposed to Indian); non-Indian.

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paleface ((n.)) 

n. a white man.

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paleman

n. a white man.

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Palliser('s) triangle

See 1952 quote.

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pan ((n.))

1 n. a fairly substantial slab of ice broken off from a large expanse of ice; an ice floe.

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pan ((v.))

1a v. separate gold from gravel or pulverized rock by washing the gravel in a pan (def. 3).

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pan out 

1a v. separate gold from gravel or pulverized rock by washing the gravel in a pan (def. 3).

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pan prospect

a prospect estimated on the basis of preliminary panning.

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pan-ice

n. ice that has broken away in pans (def. 1) or floes from a large ice field.

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pana

n. a knife about 15 inches long having a broad, straight blade and used primarily for cutting snow blocks for igloos (def. 1a).

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panage

n. a set of antlers.

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pancake

1 n. See 1958 quote at pancake ice.

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pancake ice 

See 1958 quote.

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panned

adj. killed and stacked in pans (def. 2).

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panner

n. a prospector who seeks gold by panning.

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panning 

1 n. mining gold by washing gravel in a pan (def. 3).

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panther 

n. a large, wild cat, Felis concolor, once common but now confined to southwestern Canada.

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paper birch

a species of birch, Betula papyrifera, found in many parts of Canada.

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paper town

1 a town projected but not always actually founded.

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paper township

See quote.

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paperweight

n. See quote.

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Papineau party

a popular name for the radical reform group led by Joseph Papineau, 1786-1871, in opposition to the administration in Lower Canada, opposition which reached a high point in the Rebellion of 1837.

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Papineau Rebellion

a popular name for the Rebellion of 1837 in Lower Canada, where the rebels were led by Joseph Louis Papineau.

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Papineau Revolt

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papoose

1 n. a child or baby of American Indian parents.

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papoose bag

among certain Indian tribes, a kind of bag that is laced in front and sometimes attached to a cradle-board, used for carrying a baby and so called because the bag is lined with dry moss, which serves as a diaper. [See picture at cradle- board.]

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papoose board 

a thin, rectangular board to which a moss bag is fastened and in which infants are carried. [See picture at cradle-board].

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papoose-carrier

n. a thin, rectangular board to which a moss bag is fastened and in which infants are carried.

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parchment

1 n. See 1957 quote at parchment beaver.

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parchment beaver

See 1957 quote.

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parchment canoe

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.

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parchment skin

an animal hide that has been dehaired, stretched, and dried, used for making such things as babiche, window panes, packstraps, and pemmican bags.

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parchment window

a window pane of parchment (def. 2), widely used in cabins in the Northwest (def. 1a).

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Parent Country

Great Britain.

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Parent State

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paresseux

n. a sluggish stream; deadwater; backwater.

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parfleche

1a n. a sheet of rawhide, especially buffalo hide, from which the hair has been removed.

2 n. a container made from a sheet of rawhide, usually buffalo hide, folded into a kind of envelope and laced to make an efficient bag.

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parfleche bag

a container made from a sheet of rawhide, usually buffalo hide, folded into a kind of envelope and laced to make an efficient bag.

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parfleche pouch

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parfleche trunk

a rectangular box covered with parfleche (def. 1a) often colorfully painted.

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parfleched

adj. covered with parfleche (def. 1a).

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paring bee

See 1931 quote.

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paring frolic

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parish 

1 n. in Quebec, a subdivision of a county which functions both as an ecclesiastical and political unit.

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parish school

a private school receiving no tax support, especially, in present-day use, such a school maintained by Roman Catholics.

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parish-rigged

adj. of a sailing vessel, fitted out for operating in local coastal waters only.

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park

1 n. a fenced enclosure into which animals, especially buffalo, were driven to be slaughtered; a pound.

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park belt

the lightly wooded, grassy belt of rich land lying between the open prairie and the northern forests in the three Prairie Provinces; also, similar but smaller areas of lightly wooded rolling grasslands, as the Peace River country.

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park lot

See 1833 quote.

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park ranger

a government official responsible for the maintenance and patrolling of a national or provincial park.

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park(s) warden

a government official responsible for the maintenance and patrolling of a national or provincial park.

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parka

1 n. a hooded outer garment of fur or other material. [See picture at atigi (def. 2)].

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parkade

n. a building of several storeys serving as a parking area for motor vehicles.

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parkee

n. a hooded outer garment of fur or other material.

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parkette

n. a small park in a city, rarely larger and often smaller than a block, usually containing flower beds and one or more park benches.

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parki

n. See note at parkee.

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parkland belt

the lightly wooded, grassy belt of rich land lying between the open prairie and the northern forests in the three Prairie Provinces; also, similar but smaller areas of lightly wooded rolling grasslands, as the Peace River country.

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parkland(s)

1 n. the lightly wooded, grassy belt of rich land lying between the open prairie and the northern forests in the three Prairie Provinces; also, similar but smaller areas of lightly wooded rolling grasslands, as the Peace River country.

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parklike

adj. having the characteristics of parkland (def. 1).

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parky ((2))

adj. having the characteristics of parkland (def. 1).

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parla

n. See quotes.

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Parliament Hill

1 the hill on which the Parliament buildings in Ottawa stand.

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Parliament of the North

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Parliament Square

the hill on which the Parliament buildings in Ottawa stand.

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parlo(u)r

n. a room in which a hotel is licensed to sell beer; beverage room.

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parochial school 

a private school receiving no tax support, especially, in present-day use, such a school maintained by Roman Catholics.

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Parry's ground squirrel

a ground squirrel, Spermophilus undulatus parryi, native to the northern parts of Canada.

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Parti Rouge

a radical political party of Lower Canada, founded about 1850 and first led by Louis Joseph Papineau, which was later to become the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party.

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partner

n. a stock-holding partner in the Montreal-based fur companies, especially the North West Company, who represented the company the year round at the trading posts in the fur country.

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partridge

1 n. any of various grouse found in Canada, especially the ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus.

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partridge hawk

1 the gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus.

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partridgeberry

1 n. a trailing evergreen shrub, Mitchella repens, having roundish leaves and white blossoms.

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pas d'ours

an almost circular snowshoe, varying considerably in size, used especially by the eastern Algonkians.

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passenger pigeon 

a migratory wild pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, which appeared in immense flocks during August up to the late 19th century, becoming extinct by 1914.

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pasture lot

a lot outside the limits of a newly established town, used for pasturing cattle.

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Pat Jones

See quote.

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patch

1 n. See 1851 quote.

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patch fox

n. a color-phase of the red fox, Vulpes fulva, marked with a cross over the shoulders.

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patch logging

a system of logging by which only patches of lumber in a stand are cut down, the surrounding trees being left intact to ensure natural reseeding of the cutover patch.

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patch-log

v. engage in patch logging.

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patent 

1 n. the right or title to a piece of land received as a grant or as a homestead (def. 2a).

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patent fence

See Russell fence 1953 quote. [See picture at Russell fence.]

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patent inside(s)

a sheet or sheets of newsprint having one side printed and the other left blank for printing by local newspapers.

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patent ready print sheet

a sheet or sheets of newsprint having one side printed and the other left blank for printing by local newspapers.

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patented land 

land whose title was conferred by grant.

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patentee

n. a person receiving title to land through a patent (def. 1).

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pateroon

1 n. a commander; boss.

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path

n. the general area in which a trapper has trapping rights.

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path master

n. an elected municipal official responsible for public roads, paths, bridges, etc.

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Patriot

1a n. See 1958 quote.

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Patriot army

the combined forces of exiled rebels and American sympathizers which proposed to attack Canada in 1838.

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Patriot War

the several unsuccessful raids carried out against Canada by the Patriots (def. 1) of 1838.

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Patriote

n. a follower of Louis-Joseph Papineau and a supporter of the Ninety-two Resolutions which set forth the political grievances of the rebels in Lower Canada.

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patro

n. a youth club. See quote.

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patrol

n. a vehicle equipped with a heavy blade, used for maintaining unpaved roads and, often, for snow-ploughing.

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patrol cabin

an overnight stopping place for the convenience of rangers and others who patrol the bush.

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patrol doctor

a government doctor who makes regular circuits among the Indians and Eskimos.

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Patron

n. a farmers' organization founded in 1891 and enjoying considerable political support for a number of years.

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Patrons of Industry

a farmers' organization founded in 1891 and enjoying considerable political support for a number of years.

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pay

1 n. a profitable deposit or stratum of gold-bearing gravel.

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pay dirt 

1 gold-bearing gravel.

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pay gravel

gold-bearing gravel.

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pay zone

a profitable stratum or vein of mineral-bearing ore.

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paying streak

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Pays d'en Haut

the vast region north and west of Lake Superior, as known by the fur traders and explorers.

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Pays Sauvages

See Indian country 1948 quote.

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paystreak

1 n. a profitable deposit or stratum of gold-bearing gravel.

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pea-bouncer

n. See quote.

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peace belt 

among Indians, a wampum belt symbolizing peace.

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peace calumet

an ornamented ceremonial pipe, used by certain Indian tribes as a symbol of peace and adopted by the white traders in their dealings with these Indians.

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peace pipe 

an ornamented ceremonial pipe, used by certain Indian tribes as a symbol of peace and adopted by the white traders in their dealings with these Indians.

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Peace River Block

See 1954 quote.

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Peace River country

the extensive area of rolling plains in the valley of the Peace River, in both northern Alberta and British Columbia.

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Peace River district

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Peace, the

n. the extensive area of rolling plains in the valley of the Peace River, in both northern Alberta and British Columbia.

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peacock copper

bornite, a copper-iron sulphide with a purplish tarnish, as in peacock feathers.

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pear

n. the fruit of any of these plants.

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peasoup

n. a French-speaking descendant of the settlers of New France or Acadia; a Canadian of French ancestry.

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peasouper

n. a French-speaking descendant of the settlers of New France or Acadia; a Canadian of French ancestry.

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peavey 

n. a strong pole or lever, 5 to 7 feet long, the end of which is furnished with a point of iron or steel and a hinged semicircular hook, used by loggers for directing logs in a drive, during booming operations, etc. [See picture at peavey]

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pedlar

1a n. in the usage of the men of the Hudson's Bay Company: a. a coureur de bois, especially one who competed for trade in Rupert's Land, thus being considered an interloper.

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peewee

1 n. a player of the 8-12 age group in organized sports for boys.

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Peg, the

n. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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pekan

2 n. the fur of the fisher.

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pembina (berry)

n. a shrub, Viburnum opulus; also the reddish, tart berry of this shrub. Various early spellings.

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pemmican

1 n. beaten or pounded meat mixed with melted animal fat and, sometimes, berries, the preparation being sewn in a skin bag to form a hard, compact mass that would keep for a long time under almost any conditions.

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pemmican bag

a strong bag made of buffalo rawhide sewn hair side out, used as a container for 90 pounds of pemmican (def. 1).

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pemmican boat

a boat carrying pemmican (def. 1) and other supplies to a trading post.

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pemmican canoe

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pemmican house

a storehouse for pemmican (def. 1).

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pemmican post

a meat post where pemmican (def. 1) was prepared and stored for supplying to the trading posts.

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pemmican sack

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pemmican station

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pemmican straight

See quote.

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pemmican-pounder

n. a tool used by the Plains Indians for beating meat.

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pemmicanize

v. make into pemmican (def. 1).

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penalty box

in hockey or box lacrosse, a special bench outside the playing area, where penalized players are required to sit out the time of their banishment from the game.

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penalty killer

a player whose task is to keep the opposition from scoring while his team is short-handed as a result of one or more penalties, by keeping control of the puck, checking opposition players closely, etc.

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penalty shot

a penalty permitting a designated player of the non-offending team to play the puck from centre ice and take one shot at the opposing goal, all other players except the defending goalkeeper remaining out of the play.

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penalty-killing

n. the function or activity of a penalty killer.

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penguin

1 n. the now-extinct great auk, Alca impennis, once found in vast numbers in Newfoundland coastal islands.

Penguin

n. a tracked oversnow vehicle of the snowmobile type, much used in the North, built by the Bombardier Co. of Valcourt, P.Q.

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Pennsylvania Dutch 

one of the substantial number of settlers of German origin coming into British North America from Pennsylvania during and after 1776.

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penny

n. a bronze coin valued at one hundredth part of a Canadian dollar, adopted officially as Canadian currency in 1858; also, the value of this coin.

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penny-dog

n. a penny stock.

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people

n. See 1945 quote.

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percentage woman

See 1936 quote.

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perma-ice

n. See permafrost 1957 quote.

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permafrost

n. See 1957 quote.

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permafrost line

the line marking the southern boundary of permafrost.

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permafrost pit

a storage pit for food, making use of the refrigeration properties of the permafrost.

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permit

1 n. a licence to buy and consume a specified amount of liquor, often for medicinal purposes only, in areas where the sale of spirits is otherwise illegal.

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permit runner

a person trading or selling whisky, especially as an illicit business, to the Indians.

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pesogan

n. dried fungus used as punk. Various Spellings.

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Peterborough (canoe)

n. a widely used wooden canoe patterned on the birchbark canoe and manufactured in Lakefield, Ontario, by the Peterborough Canoe Company.

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Peterhead (boat)

n. a decked launch or large whaleboat equipped with a single sail and a modest motor, widely used in the Eastern Arctic and patterned on a type of whaler deriving from Peterhead, Scotland.

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Peterhead launch

n. a decked launch or large whaleboat equipped with a single sail and a modest motor, widely used in the Eastern Arctic and patterned on a type of whaler deriving from Peterhead, Scotland.

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Peterhead schooner

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Petit Nord

that part of the Newfoundland coast, since 1783 from Cape St. John northward on the east and the entire west coast down to Cape Ray, where by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 the French were granted fishery and shore-drying rights, an arrangement that lasted until 1904.

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petite bosse

See 1944 quote.

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petite morue

n. a small food fish, Microgadus tomcod, of the St. Lawrence River and adjacent waters.

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pew

n. a long-handled, pronged device used for forking fish from boat to wharf or stage.

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pheasant

1 n. a species of grouse, Pedicetes phasianellus, found in the West and North.

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pheasantberry

n. a trailing evergreen shrub, Mitchella repens, having roundish leaves and white blossoms.

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piblokto

n. a form of hysteria among Eskimos, especially among women, occurring during the dark winter.

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picaneau

n. a large, oily fish of the sucker family, Catostomus sp.

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piccanan

n. a large, oily fish of the sucker family, Catostomus sp.

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pichou

1 n. a North American wildcat, Lynx canadensis, having prominently tufted ears, large cushioned paws, and a black tail-tip.

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pick

n. a pickerel.

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picking bee

See quote.

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picnic shelter

a shelter erected at a roadside picnic ground or camping ground for the accommodation of motorists and others.

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pie

n. a gray, crestless jay, Perisoreus canadensis.

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pie social

a social event to which women bring pies to sell to raise money for some charitable purpose.

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piece

1 n. a pack of goods or furs weighing about 90 pounds.

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piece meat

See 1933 quote.

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piece-log canoe

n. a canoe hewn from a single log.

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pig

n. See quote.

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pigeon 

1 n. a migratory wild pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, which appeared in immense flocks during August up to the late 19th century, becoming extinct by 1914.

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pigeonberry 

1 n. one of several berries, especially the fruit of the Cornus canadensis, a dogwood.

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pika 

a small mammal of the genus Ochotona, found in the western mountain region.

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pike

n. See pike-pole 1945 quote. [See picture at pike-pole.]

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pike-perch

n. the pickerel, Stizostedion vitreum, of the Great Lakes system.

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pike-pole

n. See 1945 quote. [See picture at pike-pole.]

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piked pole

n. See pike-pole 1945 quote.

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Pile o' Bones

See 1953 quote.

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piled meat

dried meat, beaten into a pulpy mass.

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pilgrim 

1 n. a newcomer or tourist, as opposed to an established resident; greenhorn.

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piling

n. in clearing land, putting logs and brush in piles for burning.

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pilot

1 n. the pilot or guide in charge of a brigade of canoes or other vessels, or of one vessel only.

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pilot lot

a lot granted to a ship's pilot to encourage him to settle in a region where his services were in demand.

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pimbina

n. a shrub, Viburnum opulus; also the reddish, tart berry of this shrub.

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pine grosbeak

a large grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator, common in the northern parts of Canada.

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pine marten

n. the pine marten, Martes americana.

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pine partridge

the spruce partridge.

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pine pheasant

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pineman

n. a logger (def. 1) of white pine.

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pinery

n. a stand of pine trees, especially one exploited for timber.

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Pinetree Line

a coast-to-coast system of radar stations across southern Canada, equipped to detect and warn of approaching aircraft or missiles.

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Pinetree radar system

a coast-to-coast system of radar stations across southern Canada, equipped to detect and warn of approaching aircraft or missiles.

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pinger

n. See quote.

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pingminton

n. See 26 June quote.

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pingo

1 n. a large mound of ice covered with soil forced up by the pressure of expanding ice in the subsoil.

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pink

n. a species of Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, characterized by pinkish flesh.

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pink salmon

a species of Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, characterized by pinkish flesh.

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pink tea

n. a social gathering attended chiefly by women.

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pink tea social

a social gathering attended chiefly by women.

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pink-eye

n. cheap inferior whisky.

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pinkie

1 n. See quote.

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pinnated grouse 

a grouse, Tympanuchus cupido americanus, common on the southern prairies.

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pintailed grouse

a species of grouse, Pedicetes phasianellus, found in the West and North.

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pinto man

n. a person of mixed Indian and European, especially French, parentage; half-breed.

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pioneer

1 n. a settler who helps to open up a part of a country.

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pioneer fringe

the frontier of settlement in the North and Northwest.

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pipe ((1))

1 n. a spell of travelling or rowing between rest periods at which a pipe was smoked; the distance that could be travelled in such a spell.

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pipe ((2))

1 n. an ornamented ceremonial pipe, used by certain Indian tribes as a symbol of peace and adopted by the white traders in their dealings with these Indians.

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pipe keeper

See quote.

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pipe of peace

an ornamented ceremonial pipe, used by certain Indian tribes as a symbol of peace and adopted by the white traders in their dealings with these Indians.

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pipe-stem

n. an ornamented ceremonial pipe, used by certain Indian tribes as a symbol of peace and adopted by the white traders in their dealings with these Indians.

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pipe-talk

n. a discussion with Indians solemnized by the smoking of a pipe, or calumet.

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pipestone

n. any of various types of stone suitable for making tobacco pipes or calumets.

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pipshi

n. See quotes.

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pipsissewa

n. [ Algonk.: Creel Prince's pine, Chimaphila umbellata. See quotes.

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piskun

n. a type of buffalo jump surrounded by steep cliffs, used by Plains Indians in slaughtering buffalo.

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pitch ((n.))

1 n. a plot of land selected and occupied by a settler.

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pitch ((v.))

1 v. travel from one camping place to another; move on, especially in stages, camping en route. Also pitch along.

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pitch in

bring in a season's fur catch to a post for crediting against debt (def. 1); visit a post to replenish supplies.

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pitch off

1 set out on a journey or a hunting expedition.

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pitch on

v. travel from one camping place to another; move on, especially in stages, camping en route. Also pitch along.

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pitch pine

any of several species of pine that yield pitch, especially Pinus rigida found in parts of Eastern Canada.

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pitch up

set out on a journey or a hunting expedition.

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pitch-hole

1 n. one of a series of depressions and ridges caused by impacted snow on a winter road, a source of much jolting and bouncing to passengers in sleighs, carioles, etc.

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pitcher plant

an herb, Sarracenia purpurea, whose leaves form into pitcher-shaped receptacles that entrap insects, adopted as the floral emblem of Newfoundland.

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pitching

n. a stage in a journey when camp is made.

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pitching track

a trail used or many years by Indians moving from one region to another.

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pitching trail

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pitching-off debt

the debt (def. 1) run up by a trapper at airading post before leaving for the hunting grounds.

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pitlamp ((n.))

n. a kind of jacklight (def. 1), so called because of its resemblance to a miner's pitlamp.

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pitlamp ((v.))

1 v. engage in pitlamping.

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pitlamper

n. a person who engages in pitlamping.

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pitlamping

n. the practice of hunting or fishing at night by using a jacklight.

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placotte

n. rib(s); cutlet.

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plain ground

n. extensive rolling grasslands, specifically those found in western Canada; also, the region covered by these grasslands.

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plain(s)

1 n. extensive rolling grasslands, specifically those found in western Canada; also, the region covered by these grasslands.

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plain(s) buffalo

a species of buffalo (def. 2) native to the great plains, a smaller species than the wood buffalo.

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plain(s) grizzly

a large bear, Ursus horribilis, once found on the prairies.

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plain(s) hare

any of several large North American hares found in the West, as Lepus americanus and, especially, L. townsendii.

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plain(s) hunt

on the prairies, an organized hunt for buffalo.

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plain(s) hunter

a person who took part in buffalo hunts.

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Plain(s) Indian

n. a member of a of several tribes of Indians inhabiting the prairies, as the Blackfoot, Assiniboine, and Plains Cree.

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plain(s) wolf

n. a mixture of Canadian French, Cree and, sometimes English spoken by the Métis of the older generation.

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plains provisions

See 1950 quote.

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plainsman

n. a man who lived on or was familiar with the prairies in early times.

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plan-heap

n. in clearing land, a planned procedure for felling trees for burning (def. 1) in such a way that as many as possible fall near or across each other so that an efficient burn results.

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plank boat

a rude, flat-bottomed boat made of rough boards.

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plank house

among Coast Indians, a long rectangular communal dwelling, built of cedar, housing several families, and used at times for ceremonial affairs. [See picture at plank house.]

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plank road

a road made of rough-hewn planks laid across timbers running end-to-end at right angles to the planks.

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plank sidewalk

a sidewalk built of planks; a boardwalk.

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plank village

a village in which the buildings are made of wooden planks.

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planked road

a road made of rough-hewn planks laid across timbers running end-to-end at right angles to the planks.

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plankway

n. a road made of rough-hewn planks laid across timbers running end-to-end at right angles to the planks.

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plant

v. See 1869 quote.

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plantation

1 n. See 1927 quote.

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planter

1a n. a settler in the colony, or plantation (def. 1), of Newfoundland.

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Planter

n. a pre-Loyalist immigrant to Nova Scotia from the New England colonies.

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plastic igloo

a prefabricated igloo, intended to be used in the Arctic as a more permanent substitute for the traditional snowhouse.

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plastic-foam igloo

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platform skin

an animal skin used to cover a sleeping platform or ledge in an igloo.

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platter

n. usually, game of the platter. See 1792 and 1921 quotes.

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play out

of animals or men, become worn out or over-fatigued.

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played out

1 of a mine or goldfield, worked out ; exhausted of minerals.

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playoff

n. one of a series of games played by two or more teams in a league to determine which is the champion.

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plaza

n. a concentration of stores, usually in or near a suburban residential district, where there is adequate room for parking, spacious walks, etc.; shopping centre.

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ploughing match

a competition among farmers to determine who is the most skilful at ploughing.

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plu

1 n. a prime beaver skin or other fur of equivalent value.

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plug

v. arrange the kernels (of grain) in such a way that inferior or frozen grain is concealed and an unduly high grade allowed by the elevator man.

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pocket borough 

a riding which is traditionally so strong in support of a given party that the candidate running there is virtually certain of being elected.

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pocket-pop

n. a pocket pistol.

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pogamagan

n. See casse-tête quotes. [See picture at casse-tête.]

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pogey

1 n. a hostel providing lodging for indigent persons at public expense, supervised by the local relief agency.

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point

1a n. a wedge or tongue of land projecting into a river or lake, especially at a bend.

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point blanket

a well-known make of blanket produced for the Hudson's Bay Company and having marks, or points (def. 2), woven into the fabric.

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point player

the player taking up position at the point (def. 4) during a power play.

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point-blanket coat

a warm woollen coat made of the same material as Hudson's Bay blankets.

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pointed blanket

a well-known make of blanket produced for the Hudson's Bay Company and having marks, or points (def. 2), woven into the fabric.

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pointer

1 n. a sturdy flat-bottomed boat about 20 ft. long, pointed fore and aft and having a shallow draft, specially designed for use in river drives. [See picture at pointer.]

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pointer boat

a sturdy flat-bottomed boat about 20 ft. long, pointed fore and aft and having a shallow draft, specially designed for use in river drives. [See picture at pointer.]

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pointman

n. the player taking up position at the point (def. 4) during a power play.

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poire

1 n. the fruit of any of these plants.

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poisson doré

n. the pickerel, Stizostedion vitreum, of the Great Lakes system.

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poisson inconnu

a fresh-water food fish, Stenodus mackenzii, native to the rivers and lakes of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, having pinkish flesh when prime and averaging about twelve pounds, though occasionally running as high as forty.

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poke ((1)) 

1 n. a bag or small sack especially one used in carrying gold dust or nuggets.

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poke ((2))

1 n. a sealskin bag used as a buoy or float.

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poke-check ((n.))

n. a defensive play made by holding the stick low along the ice and poking the puck out of the puck-carrier's control.

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poke-check ((v.))

v. make use of a poke-check.

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poke-checking

n. the practice or skill of using the poke-check.

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pokelogan

n. See 1855 quote.

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Polar Bear Express

See quote.

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polar hare

a species of large hare, Lepus arcticus, having white winter fur, found in the Barren Grounds.

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pole ((n.))

n. a long pole, often tipped with iron or steel, used for pushing or guiding a canoe or other boat in narrow or shallow streams.

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pole ((v.))

v. propel a boat or canoe by means of a pole.

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pole bridge 

a road over swampy or muddy terrain built of logs laid side by side at right angles to the way.

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pole bunk

a rudimentary bed, or bunk, made of poles.

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pole camp

a logging camp producing poles and posts for use in farming, construction, etc.

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polecat 

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police camp

a place where a detachment of Royal Canadian Mounted Police is stationed.

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police post

a place where a detachment of Royal Canadian Mounted Police is stationed.

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police town

an unincorporated village administered by an elective board of trustees.

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police trustee

a member of the board of trustees of a police village.

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police village

an unincorporated village administered by an elective board of trustees.

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policeman

1 n. an Indian employed by the R.C.M.P., earlier the N.W.M.P., as a constable with limited authority on a reserve or in other regions occupied by Indians.

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poling

n. the practice of using a setting-pole.

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poling bottom

a firm bottom to a shallow rir or lake, permitting the use of a setting-pole.

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poling-boat

n. See 1940 quote.

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poll captain

in an election, a person charged with the responsibility of getting out the vote for a particular party in a given area.

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pollack

v. look for usable or salable items that others have discarded, as in a dump or a junk shop.

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polygloo

n. See quote.

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pomme de glace

See quote.

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pomme de neige

a juicy fall apple having crisp, white flesh and red skin when ripe.

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pomme gris

a once-popular eating apple native to Canada.

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ponask

v. cook game or fish by splitting it and holding it on a stick or spit over an open fire.

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ponasking

n. See 1963 quote.

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pond

1 n. See barachois 1760 quote.

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pond beaver

a bear that builds a beaver dam, as opposed to a bank beaver.

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pont

n. a bridge across a river, bay, etc., formed by the natural freezing of the water and used as a means of crossing from one shore to the other.

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pool

1 n. a co-operative grain-marketing organization among farmers.

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pool (passenger) train

a train operated over a line of track by more than one railway company.

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poor man's camp 

See 1947 quote.

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poor man's claim

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poor man's diggings

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poor man's gold

gold-bearing gravel.

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poor man's route

a route to a goldfield that is safe and cheap for stampeders (def. 1).

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poor man's trail

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poplar bluff

See bluff 1957 quote.

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poplo

n. See popple 1956 quote.

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popple 

n. See 1956 quote.

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porcelain(e)

n. a bead or beads of shell, Venus mercenaria, later also of porcelain, important as a kind of currency among eastern Indians.

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Porcupine River Husky

See Mackenzie River husky 1963 quote.

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pork duck

the common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula.

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porkeater

1a n. in early use, an engagé of the North West Company who signed on to man the canoes plying between Montreal and the Grand Portage, so called because pork was the staple of their diet, as opposed to the pemmican and coarser foods endured by winterers and others who ventured into the interior.

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porpoise

n. the beluga or white whale.

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Port Colborne fair lead

See quote.

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portage ((n.))

1a n. on a waterway, a place where both canoe (or other vessel) and cargo are carried from one lake or river to another or around rapids, falls, or other obstructions.

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portage ((v.))

1a v. carry (canoe, supplies, etc.) at a portage (def. la).

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portage bay

a sheltered cove where a portage landing is to be found.

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portage collar

a kind of harness for carrying heavy loads, drawing on a tracking line, etc., consisting of a leather strap that is broad at the middle and tapers at both ends, the broad band being placed around the forehead (or chest) and the two ends attached to the pack or other load.

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portage landing

or mouth the point where a portage path begins.

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portage man

a logger who worked on the portage roads (def. 2).

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portage path

a path followed by persons making a portage (def. 2a).

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portage railroad

See 1958 quote.

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portage road

1a a road used for portaging boats and cargo by means of vehicles.

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portage route

a path followed by persons making a portage (def. 2a).

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portage sling

a kind of harness for carrying heavy loads, drawing on a tracking line, etc., consisting of a leather strap that is broad at the middle and tapers at both ends, the broad band being placed around the forehead (or chest) and the two ends attached to the pack or other load.

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portage strap

a kind of harness for carrying heavy loads, drawing on a tracking line, etc., consisting of a leather strap that is broad at the middle and tapers at both ends, the broad band being placed around the forehead (or chest) and the two ends attached to the pack or other load. [See picture at tumpline.]

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portage track

a path followed by persons making a portage (def. 2a).

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portage trail

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portage work

n. the carrying of canoes or boats and their cargoes at a portage (def. la).

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portager

n. one who portages; one skilled in portaging.

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portaging

n. the carrying of canoes or boats and their cargoes at a portage (def. la).

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portaging crowd

a group of loggers in town from the portage roads (def. 2) for a sit.

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pose

1 n. one of several stopping places established on a long portage (def. la). See 1933 quote.

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posse

n. a group of riders on well-trained horses who perform in processions, at fairs or stampedes, etc., usually for some charity.

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possible sack 

a canvas or leather bag in which a person's belongings are kept.

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post

n. a trading post (def. 1), especially one belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company.

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post cariole

originally, a light open sleigh used in French Canada, drawn by one or two horses (sometimes by dogs), and having a seat for the driver.

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post manager

the person in charge of a post.

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post native

any Indian who lived in or near a fur post, especially those employed as hunters.

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post-and-rail (fence) 

n. a fence made of rails set lengthwise between vertical posts, usually in pairs side by side.

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post-house

1 n. one of a number of government-licensed inns equipped with livery and a fixed tariff of rates per mile for hire of horses by travellers.

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post-Loyalist

n. an American settler who moved into Canada (1790-1800) after the influx of the true refugees, the motive usually being to take advantage of the Crown lands being opened for settlement.

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postage stamp province

See quotes.

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postkeeper

n. the person in charge of a post.

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postmaster

n. See 1829 quote.

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postmastership

n. the position and status of postmaster.

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Posts of the Western Sea

See quote.

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pot au beurre

jail; guard-house, especially at a police post or trading post.

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pot-bow

n. a piece of wood used in suspending a pot over an outdoor fire. [See picture at chiploquorgan]

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pot-cover

n. See quote.

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potashery

n. a place for making potash.

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pothead ((1))

n. a blackfish, Globicephala melaena, of the Atlantic coast.

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pothead ((2))

n. See quote.

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pothead whale

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pothole

1a n. See 1824 quote at kettle ((1)) (def. 2).

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pothole easement

a payment made to prairie farmers to induce them to permit ducks to breed freely in sloughs on their property.

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pothole fishing

angling in prairie potholes in which trout have been planted.

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pothole lake

See 1902 quote at pothole (def. 3a).

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pothole meadow

a low-lying meadow subject to flooding during spring runoffs and productive in hay.

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pothole shooting

hunting ducks near potholes or sloughs, where they feed and breed.

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pothole slough

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potlatch ((n.))

1 n. a gift of goods or money; donation; handout. Also spelled potlach.

potlatch ((v.))

1a v. give with the expectation of a return gift.

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potlatch hall

a communal hall for holding potlatches (def. 2).

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potlatch house

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Potlatch Law

a federal law forbidding the potlatch (def. 2a) on the ground that the institution was wasteful and disruptive. See quote.

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potlatch system

the system of holding reciprocal potlatches (def. 2a) and thus incurring the accompanying debts and obligations of this social institution among the Coast Indians.

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potlatch-giver

n. a person giving a potlatch (def. 2a).

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potlatched

adj. obtained at a potlatch (def. 2a).

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potlatcher

1 n. a person giving a potlatch (def. 2a).

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potlatching ((adj.))

adj. of or having to do with potlatches (def. 2a).

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potlatching ((n.))

1a n. the holding of potlatches (def. 2a).

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pottie

1 n. a member of the X.Y. Company.

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poudre

n. See quotes at poudrerie.

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poudre day

See 1909 quote.

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poudrerie

n. See quotes.

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pound ((1)) ((v.))

v. trap in a pound (def. 1 or 2).

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pound ((2)) ((v.))

v. prepare meat for pemmican by pounding it to powder between two stones, an Indian practice adopted by the white man in the old Northwest.

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pound ((n.))

1a n. an enclosure or trap into which deer or caribou were driven for slaughtering by the Indians. Also spelled pond.

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pounded fish

fish that has been dried and powdered by being pounded between two stones to make it easier to store and carry.

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pounded meat

n. the flesh of the caribou, buffalo, or other game cut into thin slices, dried in the sun or over a fire, and pulverized between two stones, the resulting powder being the basic ingredient of pemmican.

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pow-wow ((n.)) 

1a n. among Indians: a conference or gathering to discuss business or to engage in some ceremonial or rite.

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pow-wow ((v.)) 

v. converse; chat.

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powahgen

1 n. a spirit, especially an evil spirit.

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power

n. a waterfall used as a source of power, as at a mill site.

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power grader

an engine-driven road-grading machine.

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power play

a special combination of players which is iced by a team whenever its opponents are shorthanded.

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power scow

a scow driven by an inboard motor.

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power toboggan

a small over-snow vehicle equipped with skis at the front and powered by a motor driving a treaded endless track. [See picture at motor toboggan.]

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power-wagon

n. See quote.

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powmagan

n. See casse-tête quotes.

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prairie

1 n. a meadow.

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Prairie ((adj.))

adj. or attrib. of or having to do with the Prairie Provinces.

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Prairie ((n.))

n. See quote.

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Prairie Bubble

See 1952 quote.

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prairie buffalo 

a species of buffalo (def. 2) native to the great plains, a smaller species than the wood buffalo.

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prairie cart 

a crude two-wheeled vehicle similar to the Red River cart.

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prairie chicken 

1 a grouse, Tympanuchus cupido americanus, common on the southern prairies.

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prairie chip 

a piece of dried buffalo dung, often used for fuel on the prairies.

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prairie country

extensive rolling grasslands, specifically those found in western Canada; also, the region covered by these grasslands.

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prairie crocus

n. the pasque flower, Anemone patens.

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prairie dog

1 a small fox, Vulpes velox hebes, once common on the prairies.

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prairie elk

the North American elk or stag, Cervus canadensis.

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prairie fire

a great grass-fire that sweeps across tinder-dry prairie (def. 2a).

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prairie fowl 

a grouse, Tympanuchus cupido americanus, common on the southern prairies.

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prairie fox 

1 a variety of the red fox, Vulpes fulva, found on the prairies.

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prairie gopher

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prairie grouse

a grouse, Tympanuchus cupido americanus, common on the southern prairies.

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prairie hare

any of several large North American hares found in the West, as Lepus americanus and, especially, L. townsendii.

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prairie hen 

1 a grouse, Tympanuchus cupido americanus, common on the southern prairies.

Prairie Indian

a member of a of several tribes of Indians inhabiting the prairies, as the Blackfoot, Assiniboine, and Plains Cree.

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prairie itch

a form of dermatitis caused by a fresh-water hydra encountered in certain sloughs on the prairie (def. 2a).

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prairie level

See 1952 quote.

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prairie lily 

the wild orange-red lily, Lilium philadelphicum.

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prairie oyster 

1 a raw egg swallowed whole or drunk in vinegar, brandy, etc.

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prairie post

a trading post established on the prairie (def. 2a).

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prairie potato 

See prairie turnip 1892 quote.

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prairie province

1 Manitoba.

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Prairie Provinces, the

See 1952 quote.

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prairie region

extensive rolling grasslands, specifically those found in western Canada; also, the region covered by these grasslands.

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prairie rose 

A pink climbing rose, Rosa setigera of the prairie (def. 2a).

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prairie schooner 

any of various types of wagon used by settlers in the westward migration of the nineteenth century.

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prairie smoke 

the pasque flower, Anemone patens.

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prairie squint

a squint characteristic of many western farmers who work long hours in the sun.

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prairie squirrel

the Richardson ground squirrel, Spermophilus richardsonii.

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prairie steppe

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prairie turnip 

See 1892 quote.

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prairie wagon 

any of various types of wagon used by settlers in the westward migration of the nineteenth century.

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prairie wolf 

a small wolf, Canis latrans, usually associated with the prairies but found across Canada, mainly in the region south of the range of the larger timber wolf.

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prairie wool

See 1953 quote.

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prairie-dog town

one of the large communities of the gregarious prairie dog (def. 2).

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prairie-dog village 

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prairie-land

1 n. the region of the prairie (def. 2a).

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prairie-rover

n. a desperado; outlaw; rustler.

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prairiedress

n. See quote.

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Prairies

1 n. pl. the region of the prairie (def. 2a).

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prairion

n. a small tract of grassland; a small meadow.

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pre-Confederation

adj. or attrib. relating to the period prior to 1867, when Confederation was established.

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pre-empt

1 v. take over (land) by legal claim for purposes of engaging in mining operations.

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pre-emption 

1 n. the right to purchase public land under stipulated conditions and on the basis of a prior claim, such as established settlement or the ownership and improvement of adjacent land.

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pre-emptor 

n. one who acquires land by pre-emption (def. 1).

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pre-Loyalist

adj. of or pertaining to the period prior to the arrival of the Loyalists in Canada.

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Pre-Loyalist

n. a settler arriving prior to the American Revolution, especially a New Englander who settled in Nova Scotia prior to 1776.

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premier

1 n. the chief executive of a provincial government (in modern use in Canada, usually distinguished from the prime minister).

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present

n. one of an annual issue of gifts to the Indians, made by the government or the fur companies with the intent of maintaining the goodwill of the recipients.

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present of rum

See quote.

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president

n. a person charged with administering the affairs of a province during the absence of the governor general or lieutenant-governor or in the interim between the departure of one governor and the arrival of his successor. In full, President of the Council or Province.

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pret

n. a ration of food; rations; share.

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prickly beaver

the American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum.

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Prima Vista

the name given by John Cabot to what is now Newfoundland.

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prime

adj. adv. designating skins that are in undeteriorated winter growth of hair and full thickness of hide.

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prime minister

1 the chief executive of the government of Canada; the first minister of the federal government and, in practice, the leader of the party in power.

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Prince Edward's Island

Prince Edward Island.

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Prince Rupert's Land

the territory granted by charter in 1670 to the Hudson's Bay Company and surrendered to the Government of Canada in 1870 for a compensation of £300,000, understood as comprising all land watered by rivers flowing into Hudson Bay and so named because Prince Rupert was first governor of the Company.

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private potlatch

the distribution of property and gifts at small gatherings without the customary ceremony, to circumvent the Potlatch Law, Hence, private potlatcher.

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private trade

the practice among company officers and, at times, other employees of trading with the Indians on a private basis.

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production line

a forward line that scores a large number of goals.

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Progressive

n. a member or supporter of the Progressive Party.

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Progressive Conservative

a member or supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party.

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Progressive Conservative Party

the current name, since 1942, of the Canadian political party descended from the Conservative Party of Sir John A. Macdonald and succeeding leaders; also, any of the several related provincial parties.

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Progressive Party

a political party having substantial support among liberals and farmers in the 1920's.

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prompt trade

a transaction in which the customer at a trading post simply turned over his furs for their exact value in goods.

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prongbuck 

n. the pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, of the southern prairies.

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pronghorn (antelope)

n. the pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, of the southern prairies.

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proof line

in government surveys, the east-west line that functions as a starting point for the parallel lines demarcating blocks, townships, etc.

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propeller 

n. a steamboat propelled by a turning screw, used largely on the Great Lakes.

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proprietor

n. a stock-holding partner in the Montreal-based fur companies, especially the North West Company who represented the company the year round at the trading posts in the fur country.

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prospect ((n.)) 

1 n. a mining area or claim appearing to have attractive mineral deposits; a site that a prospector works.

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prospect ((v.)) 

search an area of mineral deposits.

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prospect hole

a shaft sunk in searching for minerals.

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prospect shaft 

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prospecting

n. the searching of an area for mineral deposits.

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prospector 

1 n. a person who prospects for minerals.

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prospector canoe

See quotes.

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prospector's stew

a stew made with squares of bacon, potatoes, onions, etc.

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Prospector's Toboggan

See 1959 quote.

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protracted meeting

a series of religious services held all day long for several days.

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prove 

v. demonstrate that a prospect has the hoped-for mineral deposits.

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prove out

carry out the improvements required to gain the patent on homesteaded land.

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prove up 

v. carry out the improvements required to gain the patent on homesteaded land.

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prove up on

carry out the improvements required to gain the patent on homesteaded land.

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province

1 n. any one of the principal administrative subdivisions of British North America.

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Province of Canada

the official name of the entity formed by the union of Upper and Lower Canada from 1841 to 1867, the two parts being known officially as Canada West and Canada East respectively.

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province paper

any of the currency notes issued by several of the provinces in colonial times.

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provincial ((adj.))

1 adj. of or pertaining to one of the provinces of British North America.

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provincial ((n.))

1 n. a native of one of the provinces of Canada.

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provincial bank-note

any of the currency notes issued by several of the provinces in colonial times.

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Provincial Building

the building in which the Legislative Assembly convenes.

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provincial currency

a standard of exchange which served as a system of account in colonial times, being officially adopted in Lower Canada and later in Upper Canada, where York Currency had long predominated.

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provincial flag

a flag officially adopted by a province.

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provincial legislature

the legislature of any Canadian province.

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Provincial Marine

See 1934 quote.

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provincial note

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provincial park

a large tract of wild land preserved for the enjoyment of the people and maintained by the provincial government.

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provincial parliament

the legislature of any Canadian province.

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provincial police

a police force maiained by a province to enforce the laws of the province in areas lacking municipal police protection.

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provincial policeman

a member of the provincial police.

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provincial premier

the chief executive of a provincial government (in modern use in Canada, usually distinguished from the prime minister).

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provincial rights

the rights of the several provinces to exercise control in those areas designated as being under provincial jurisdiction in the British North America Act.

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provincialist

1 n. a native of one of the provinces of Canada.

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proving up

v. the carrying out of the commitments required to prove up a homestead.

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provision post

a post established by a fur-trading company to accommodate hunters responsible for supplying meat to trading posts in the district.

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provisional county

a municipal unit in Upper Canada which was not qualified as a county proper but which was expected soon so to qualify.

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provisional district

a large unorganized or partly organized frontier area established primarily for judicial purposes.

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provisional government

1 a temporary government set up by the rebels in Upper Canada in 1838.

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provisional territory

a large unorganized or partly organized frontier area established primarily for judicial purposes.

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provisional warden

n. the chief executive of a provisional county.

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pryor (pole)

n. See 1941 quote.

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prêle

n. See 1897 quote.

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puagun

n. a tobacco pipe.

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public school 

a tax-supported school for the education of children, especially, in modern use, an elementary school; also, the building in which such a school is held.

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puck

n. a disk of hard, black rubber used in ice hockey.

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puck carrier

the player in possession of the puck during play.

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puck sense

intuitive ability to play hockey.

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puck shy

of goalies, afraid of being hit by a puck.

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puck-handling

n. skilful use of a hockey stick.

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puck-off

n. in hockey, lacrosse, etc. the putting of the puck or ball into play by dropping it between the sticks of two opposing players facing each other.

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puck-pusher

n. a hockey player.

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puckchaser

n. a hockey player.

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puckster

n. a hockey player.

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pull out

leave; quit; withdraw.

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pull whistle

work as a whistle-punk.

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pulp mill

a mill producing pulp for paper.

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pulphook

n. a sickle-shaped hand hook used in working with pulpwood. [See picture at pulphook.]

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puma 

n. a large, wild cat, Felis concolor, once common but now confined to southwestern Canada.

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pumpkin pine

a tall, stately pine, Pinus strobus, of eastern Canada, much used for shipmasts in colonial days and providing the basis for the lumber industry.

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punch

v. drive (cattle) while on horseback; work as a cowboy (def. 1).

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punch donkey

work as a donkey jammer.

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puncher

1 n. a man who works as a rider on a cattle or horse ranch.

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pung 

n. See 1896 quote.

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punk ((n.))

n. a person who relays the shouted signals of the hooktender to the donkey operator by blowing a whistle or operating an electric whistle (an occupation now largely displaced by electronic devices)

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punk ((v.))

v. work as a whistle-punk.

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punkie 

n. a tiny winged insect, Culicoides sp., that has a nasty bite; also, sometimes a sandfly.

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punt

n. See 1906 quote.

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pup

n. a small tributary stream of a creek.

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pure Indian

n. an Indian of unmixed blood.

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purgatory ledger

See quote.

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purple sandpiper

a shore bird, Erolia maritima, common in the North, so called because of its winter feathers of purplish black over underparts of white.

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push

n. See 1942 quote.

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push-pole

1 n. a long pole or stick used to push a dogsled whenever the dogs need help from the driver.

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pushing pole

a long pole or stick used to push a dogsled whenever the dogs need help from the driver.

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pushing stick

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pushup

n. a breathing-hole made in the ice by muskrats and kept open by means of tufts of grass and other vegetation stuffed in the opening.

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puskaway

n. See quote.

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pusky

n. a party.

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pussy

n. See quotes.

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