bois de vache

[ bwah duh vash ]

noun

1. dried buffalo dung, used as fuel by Canadian and U.S. fur trappers in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bois de vache¹

1835–45, Americanism; < Prairie Canadian French: literally, buffalo wood ( vache buffalo, French: cow)

Example Sentences

We made a small fire of bois de vache, to which Tiger presently brought a few twigs of mimosa, so that we were able to cook our supper; then we supplied our friends whose bedding had fallen into the abyss with such blankets and hides as we could spare.

From Project Gutenberg

We made a poor fire of bois de vache and small bushes, large enough to cook our supper, then we put up our tents and secured our traps under the tarpaulin on a bed of stones, for the sky was overcast and led to expectation of rain.

From Project Gutenberg

We halted in order to refresh ourselves and our cattle, but we were obliged, as was the case nearly the whole week, to kindle a fire of bois de vache, to prepare our supper.

From Project Gutenberg

Last year’s signs of them were provokingly abundant; and wood being extremely scarce, we found an admirable substitute in the bois de vache, which burns exactly like peat, producing no unpleasant effects.

From Project Gutenberg

We saw, moreover, the bois de vache of the wild cattle.

From Project Gutenberg