DCHP-1 Online

chantier [< Cdn F "logger's cabin or camp" < F "timber yard, dock"]

• 1 n. Obs. a crude hut used as a dwelling by lumbermen in the bush.

  See also: chantie (def. 2)  shanty ((n.)) (def. 1a)  

  • 1822  (1932)  . . . he usually halted at a Chantier. . . . We . . . concluded that the shanty must be close at hand.
  • 1859  (1889-1890)  Here we were fixed for the winter, in new and comfortable chantiers, with plenty of firewood and good accessories

• 2 n. Obs. See 1958 quote.

  See also: chantie (def. 1)  shanty ((n.)) (def. 2a)  

  • 1823  (1938)  Cap. John & an other brother were trying their fortunes in the Chantier line last winter.
  • 1837  (1960)  . . . we have every reason to suppose that said sheep were taken up in Gatineau River to the chantiers where the rioters . . . are employed.
  • 1854  (1960)  For some years past, intoxicating liquors have been vigorously excluded from almost all the chantiers (shanties) . . . and . . . the result of the experiment has been entirely satisfactory.
  • 1958  The word "shanty" developed as an equivalent for the French-Canadian word chantier, a lumber camp

• 3a n. Fur Trade, Obs. See quote.

  • 1902  (1954)  Near most of the larger river posts there was some spot selected where timber was abundant at which the pickets and lumber for the posts were manufactured, the mackinaw boats and the canoes built, and such other work done as the establishment required. These places were called chantiers. . . .

• 3b n. an article made at such a building yard.

  • 1834  (1963)  During the day with the people at Point Duncan carting Chantieres.

• 4 n. N. Ont. a co-operative of independent loggers.

  See also: settler (def. 3)  

  • 1963  Largest of the co-operatives in the area is the Chantier Co-operative Val Rita. . . . "The chantier," he says, "is very careful in its choice of members."