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poilu

noun
poi·​lu | \ pwäl-ˈyü How to pronounce poilu (audio) , pwä-ˈlü; ˈpwäl-ˌyü, ˈpwä-ˌlü; pwä-ˈlᵫ How to pronounce poilu (audio) \

Definition of poilu

: a French soldier especially : a front-line soldier in World War I

First Known Use of poilu

1914, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for poilu

French, from poilu hairy, from Middle French, from poil hair, from Old French peil, Latin pilus

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The first known use of poilu was in 1914

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