A Few Words from the Fur Trade (Quiz)

Art. IV. A Few Words from the Fur Trade.

In which the editors extend an invitation to test your fur trade vocabulary.

This quiz will test your 1800's word power! Pick the best answer based on the definition of these fur trade words between the years 1790 to 1815. Answers are at the end (No peeking!)

1. A tranche is

a) an ice chisel ; b) a large platter ;

c) a ditch ; d) all of the above

2. A hatchet is a kind of

a) ax ; b) tomahawk ;

c) bungled job

3. Moccasins are most commonly called

a) mukluks ; b) rackets ;

c) shoes ; d) none of the above

4. A red deer is a(n)

a) white-tailed deer ; b) mule deer ;

c) elk ; d) antelope

5. Elk means

a) moose ; b) elk ;

c) white-tailed deer ; d) mule deer

6. An orignal is a(n)

a)misspelling of original ; b) wapiti ;

c) red deer ; d) moose

7. A day spent marching is a day spent

a) travelling by canoe ;

b) travelling on horseback ;

c) travelling on foot ;

d) any of the above

8. A female buffalo is most commonly called

a) a cow ; b) a bison ;

c) a buffalo ; d) a berdash

9. To be crazy is to be

a) confused by drink ; b) in a towering rage ;

c) full of cracks and patches ; d) feverish

10. Calico is best described as

a) cotton cloth ;

b) a cotton cloth printed with small colored flowers ;

c) a small feline ;

d) an intense stomach pain

11. Lace means

a) a delicate tracery ;

b) a gold or silver decoration, esp. on military uniforms ;

c) an herbal remedy ;

d) all of the above

12. A foreman is

a) a supervisor ;

b) occupies the position of avant ;

c) a bowman ;

d) a & b above ;

e) b & c above

13. Poires are

a) pears ; b) saskatoons ;

c) serviceberries ; d) b & c above ;

e) a & c above

14. To be 'knocked up' is to be

a) awakened by a companion ; b) pregnant ;

c) exhausted ; d) beaten up

15. A train is

a) dog sleds on the trail ; b) part of a harness ;

c) anything that runs on rails ; d) a procession

16. A liard is

a) a poplar tree ; b) a Scottish lord ;

c) a kind of plaited rope ; d) a small copper coin.

17. A juggler is

a) someone who juggles ; b) a trickster or conjurer ;

c) part of a dog team's harness ; d) a person who drinks too much

18. Milk normally refers to

a) maple sap ; b) cow's milk ;

c) mother's milk ; d) rum

19. A beau-père is

a) one's father-in-law ; b) a priest ;

c) a canoe-building tool ; d) the chief trader at a post

20. A cod is

a) a fish ; b) a small pouch ;

c) male private parts ; d) none of the above

21. A cock is

a) a fish ; b) male private parts ;

c) part of a gun ; d) a cod

22. Equipment usually refers to

a) brazen sundries ; b) clothing, blankets, &c;

c) found ; d) all of the above

23. In the North West Company, 'found' is

a) knowing where you are ; b) fodder ;

c) food ; d) food & equipment

24. A berdash is

a) a hat maker ; b) a female buffalo ;

c) an Indian transvestite ; d) a carriage on runners

True or False?

25. A kettle has a spout.

26. A road is the route taken between two points.

27. Outard is a common misspelling for 'outward'.

28. Buffalo are sometimes referred to as cattle.

29. A canoe is a machine.

Answers below:

1.(a) 2.(a) 3.(c) 4.(c) 5.(b) 6.(d) 7.(d) 8.(a) 9.(c) 10.(a) 11.(b) 12.(e) 13.(d) 14.(c) 15.(a) 16.(a) 17.(b) 18.(d) 19.(a) 20.(c) 21.(c) 22.(b) 23.(d) 24.(c) 25-F 26-T 27-F 28-T 29-T

Placement

0-7 correct	Pork-eater. Spend a few more summers on the Great Lakes before going further west.
8-14 correct.	Homme du Nord. You're obviously learning the language. Put another feather in your cap.
15-21 correct.	Clerk. Keep on reading & writing and you'll be a partner one day.
22-28 correct.	Wintering Partner. Congratulations! You've earned a share in the North West Company. Time to join the Beaver Club!