DCHP-1 Online

launcher Fur Trade, Hist.

• n. a shallow place where a boat or canoe had to be partly unloaded before it could proceed.

  See also: décharge (def. 1)  

  • 1827  (1912)  Leaving Morgan's Rock . . . we went to the Rocky Launcher and encamped at 10 p.m.
  • 1923  In localities where there was a large number of "launchers" and the boats were hauled over portages, 28 to 30 feet was the length [of a York boat]. On routes where there were no "launchers", the length was 38 to 40 feet.