Poilu. Meaning "hairy one". Lots of facial fur.
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The French soldiers in World War I were known as poilu.
poiluPoilu, which literally means "hairy one," was a warm, informal term for French infantrymen, particularly during World War I.
un poilu
Barathea (Worsted wool) cloth a.k.a hairy Marys.
French infantrymen were affectionately called poilu which translates roughly to hairy one. Sometimes the meaning of a word doesn't translate well. Poilu shouldn't be taken literally, a better way of translating it would be good, powerful fellow or a tough man. The fact so many of them had big bushy beards also contributed to the nickname.