DCHP-1 Online

settlement

• 1a n. a community, especially in its early stages of development.

  • 1769  (1931)  . . . there is a settlement within a few leagues, on which there is an extreme agreeable family. . . .
  • 1814  I wish Lord S . . . was in his grave before he thought of this settlement, or I in mine before I came to it.
  • 1958  From one settlement near the Henik Lakes, a mother with five small children headed across the barrens on foot in 40-below zero weather. . . .
  • 1966  For EPA's pilots, that just adds to the challenge of flying mail to 43 remote Newfoundland and Labrador settlements. . . .

• 1b n. N.S., Hist. an early land division of approximately six square miles.

  See also: township (def. 1a)  

  • 1907  The term "Settlement" was used with few exceptions in eastern Nova Scotia in place of "Township," the common term in the western part.

• 1c n. in the Northwest, an officially designated community.

  • 1953  At many posts, camps and settlements where an organic community exists the people decided which candidate they wished to favor and cast their votes for him.
  • 1954  . . . most of the natives there lived a nomadic life travelling far from the settlement, fishing, hunting and trapping in order to live. . . .
  • 1965  . . . the houses will bring Indian and Metis children to settlement schools. . . .

• 2 n. Obs. a trading post of a fur company.

  • 1775  (1951)  In the Afternoon a Canoe with fourteen of the Pedlers men arrived on their way to the upper Settlement in Sas-kach-i-wan River. . . .
  • 1778  (1954)  I shall be ready to go up again as soon as the River breaks up and to be down again at Ship time so that I may have an opportunity of knowing what is the Companys Intentions in regard to this settlement.