DCHP-2
bois-brûlé [< Cdn F bois brûlé charred wood, with reference to the half-breed's dark complexion] Hist. DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
THIS ENTRY MAY CONTAIN OUTDATED INFORMATION, TERMS and EXAMPLES
n.
a half-breed, especially one having French blood; Métis.
See also: bois grille Brulé (def. 1) Chicot half-breed
- 1815 (1910 [1909]) You will be poor and miserable if the English stay. But we will drive them away, if the Indian does not, for the "Nor'-West" Company and the Bois-brulés are one.
- 1890 Bois-brules is explained by referring to the maternal dialect of a large proportion of half-breeds. In the Chippewa [Ojibwa] tongue they are "men partly burnt," i.e. tinged with Indian blood, but not quite burned into the coppery complexion.
- 1960 . . . the result of the Bay proclamations was to provoke civil disobedience on the part of the boisbrules and active opposition by the Nor'westers. . . .
- 1815 (1910 [1909]) You will be poor and miserable if the English stay. But we will drive them away, if the Indian does not, for the "Nor'-West" Company and the Bois-brulés are one.