DCHP-1 Online
X.Y. Fur Trade, Hist. 
1 a Montreal-based fur company formed in 1798 by disaffected Northwesters and absorbed by the North West Company in 1804, so called because its packs were labelled XY to keep them distinct from those of its competitor, which were marked N.W.
See also: X.Y. Company
- 1804 (1933) I was informed by Laverdure, that the X.Y. were preparing to go a derouine.
- 1822 (1931) He devotes himself more to Legislating than to business and has the entire lead of McDonald, George Keith and Leith his old XY partisans.
- 1944 . . . the groundwork was already laid when the heads of the newly amalgamated companies, the North West and the X.Y., met at their headquarters at Fort William.
2 a member of the X.Y. Company.
See also: X.Y. Company
- c1902 (1912) In Canada the French sided with the Nor'Westers and X.Y.'s, who had sprung up in opposition to the great English Hudson's Bay Company.
- 1804 (1933) I was informed by Laverdure, that the X.Y. were preparing to go a derouine.