peltry

noun

peltry

noun

/ˈpɛltɹi/

Etymology From Old French peleterie, the trade of a skinner or peltmonger (peletier). Equivalent to pelt + -ry.

1

Pelts or skins, collectively; skins with the fur on them; furs.

  • ...those Indians informed him, that the war was not yet at an end, and that he would live better and with more safety among the French; who, in truth, do much indulge the Indians, and furnish them whatever they desire, because they employ those Indians to kill them beaver, and moose, and other peltry, whereby they gain much.1677, Daniel Gookin, The Doings and Sufferings of the Christian Indians, page 521:
  • It has gray hair, and the fleece is sometimes sold with other peltries, but it is not worth much, although it has some odor.1679-1680, Jasper Danckaerts, Journal of Jasper Danckaerts, 1679-1680:
2 more examples
  • We met with a party of three hunters from the Sioux river; they had been out for twelve months, and collected about nine hundred dollars worth of peltries and furs.1814, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark, Vol. I.:
  • Selling his glittering goods at a great advance, he received in exchange valuable peltries and furs at a corresponding reduction.1855, Herman Melville, Israel Potter:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.