What do you call coureurs de bois mean in English?
coureurs de bois (kurpr’ de bwa) — French for woods runners — unlicensed fur traders during the early French settlment in Quebec.
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French settlers came early to North America, following in the wake of the explorers and fur traders, creating New France, Quebec City, founded in 1608. But immigration from France was slow prior to the mid-1600s and there was a need to relocate the multitude of workmen who lacked employment in France. Many of the young men who immigrated during this time frame were engaged to serve (3 to 6 years) in New France as ploughmen, diggers, pit men, etc. (among the lowest paid people). These young men began to “seek their fortunes” engaging in the fur trade without permission from French authorities . . . i.e. coureurs de bois . . . woods runners.