[a. F. cordelle, dim. of corde CORD.]
† 1. (See quot.) Obs.
1847–78. Halliwell, Cordelles, twisted cords; tassels.
2. Canada and U.S. A towing line or rope. [The only sense in mod.F., and thence adopted in Canada and the Mississippi Valley.]
1823. J. D. Hunter, Mem. Captivity N. Amer., 84. Where rapids occurred in the river, we assisted at the cordelle, or towing-line, from the shore.
1884. T. W. Higginson, in Harper’s Mag., June, 125/1. A ‘Kanuck,’ or French Canadian, at the oar or the ‘cordelle,’ the rope used to haul a boat up-stream.
