SINCE 1828
poilu
noun
poi·lu
| \ pwäl-ˈyü
, pwä-ˈlü; ˈpwäl-ˌyü, ˈpwä-ˌlü; pwä-ˈlᵫ
\
, pwä-ˈlü; ˈpwäl-ˌyü, ˈpwä-ˌlü; pwä-ˈlᵫ
\
Definition of poilu
: a French soldier
especially
: a front-line soldier in World War I
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about poilu
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
The Misspelled Words of the National...
The Misspelled Words of the National Spelling Bee
Are these the hardest words to spell in English?
Statistics for poilu
Look-up Popularity
Comments on poilu
What made you want to look up poilu? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Finance Words Quiz
-
- The etymology of mortgage is related most closely to which two words?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Finance Words Quiz
Take the quiz
-
Namesakes Word Quiz
When names become words and then we ask you about them.
Take the quiz -
Name That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
Take the quiz -
Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share poilu
Resources for poilu