parfleche

[ pahr-flesh, pahr-flesh ]

/ ˈpɑr flɛʃ, pɑrˈflɛʃ /

a rawhide that has been dried after having been soaked in a solution of lye and water to remove the hair.

an article or object, as a case, pouch, etc., made of such rawhide.

Origin of parfleche

1820–30; < Canadian French parflèche, equivalent to French par(er) to parry (see para-²) + flèche arrow

pareu, pareunia, parev, pareve, parfait, parfleche, parfocal, parfum, pargasite, parget, pargeting

They carry the parfleche with the tongues in it on a robe, each man holding a corner.

The Sun Dance of the Blackfoot Indians |Clark Wissler
They built three great tepees, in one of which were stored rows upon rows of parfleche bags of dried meat.

Myths and Legends of the Sioux |Marie L. McLaughlin
The painted tongue and then the others are placed on the parfleche.

The Sun Dance of the Blackfoot Indians |Clark Wissler
La Luna sat near her brother, sewing “parfleche” soles upon a pair of moccasins.

The Scalp Hunters |Mayne Reid

Then everybody began to sing hard, and four young men pounded with sticks on a parfleche, in time to the music.

When Buffalo Ran |George Bird Grinnell

parfleche

/ (ˈpɑːflɛʃ) /

a sheet of rawhide that has been dried after soaking in lye and water to remove the hair

an object, such as a case, made of this

C19: from Canadian French, from French parer to ward off, protect + flèche arrow