DCHP-1 Online

leader

• 1 n. Fur Trade, Hist. the leader and spokesman of a band of Indians trading at a fur post, often appointed by the factor and rewarded with a captain's coat.

  See also: captain (def. 2)  

  • 1754  (1907)  At night I went to my tent . . . and told my Leader.
  • 1772  (1908)  Here I met with a York Fort Leader who had not been down this summer.
  • 1954  There were certain Indians who brought in more furs than their colleagues, and who for various reasons pleased the English and the French fur traders. The traders called them Leaders and made special presents to them. . . .

• 2 n. in a dog team, the dog, sometimes a female, who leads the team, setting the pace and carrying out the driver's commands. See pictures at fan hitch and tandem hitch.

  See also: fan hitch  foregoer (def. 1)  lead dog  leader dog  tandem hitch  train-leader  

  • 1818  Two of the most sagacious and best-trained dogs are placed in front, as leaders; no reins being necessary; for the animals will naturally follow a beaten track through the snow; and they are easily guided by a long whip, the lash of which extends to the foremost dogs.
  • 1864  Barbekark was my leader, and, by dint of hard blows, I managed to keep him in a right position.
  • 1956  He was my spare leader, but any time I went to harness him, he hung his head and dropped his tail and registered his disgust.

• 3 n. See quotes.

  • 1907  The trap is set in 10 to 12 fathoms of water, and a long net stretching landwards, and called a "leader," guides the fish in at the front door.
  • 1944  A long net hung vertically, called a leader, is fastened to the shore, extending out to the cod trap.