DCHP-1 Online
war canoe 
1 Hist. a large Indian canoe, often associated by white men with war.
- 1824 (1931) They appoint a time for Meeting and the Belligerents go to the scene of action in their War Canoes, the neighbouring tribes or Nations observing a strict neutrality.
- 1852 (1881) The Indians say, that before their fathers had tools of iron and steel in common use, a war canoe was the labour of three generations. It was hollowed out by means of fire, cautiously applied, or by stone hatchets; but so slowly did the work proceed that years were passed in its excavation.
- 1955 . . . a flotilla of war-canoes, carrying several hundred armed and painted natives, swept around a river bend.
- 1965 The huge Nootka war canoes, with prows more resplendent than any clipper ship figurehead . . . bespoke . . . exact craftmanship. . . .
2 a large canoe used in races.
- 1955 An Indian youth answered our questions: "No, she's not a war canoe. She's a racer. We're taking her to Victoria to race there. . . ."
- 1959 The Indian war canoes did most of their fighting against a treacherous rain squall and choppy water Sunday.
- 1967 [Caption] Sailors from HMCS Saskatchewan switch from warship to war canoe during practice in Victoria harbor yesterday to race against Indian team later this month.
- 1824 (1931) They appoint a time for Meeting and the Belligerents go to the scene of action in their War Canoes, the neighbouring tribes or Nations observing a strict neutrality.