peltry

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɛltɹi/

Noun

peltry (countable and uncountable, plural peltries)

1. Pelts or skins, collectively; skins with the fur on them; furs.
   • 1677, Daniel Gookin, The Doings and Sufferings of the Christian Indians, page 521:

     ...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.

   • 1679-1680, Jasper Danckaerts, Journal of Jasper Danckaerts, 1679-1680‎:

     It has gray hair, and the fleece is sometimes sold with other peltries, but it is not worth much, although it has some odor.

   • 1814, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark, Vol. I.‎:

     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.

   • 1855, Herman Melville, Israel Potter‎:

     Selling his glittering goods at a great advance, he received in exchange valuable peltries and furs at a corresponding reduction.

Anagrams

• pertly