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muleteer

muleteer

1 9.9
A person who drives and cares for mules as a job
  • noun
  • /ˌmjuːləˈtɪr/
translation icon : muletero
  • As a muleteer, his job was to ensure the safe transport of goods across the rugged terrain.
  • other muleteers

Examples

  • The experienced muleteer carefully guided the animals down the steep path.

  • Each muleteer packed supplies on his mule for the long journey ahead.

  • During one of these breaks, the muleteer and the guy perched on the mule appeared.

    Blog text (1)
  • The muleteer said the local county government was using farmers as planters for the "Green Great Wall" project to stop desertification.

    Academic text (2003)
  • The water in the river reached almost to our waists, and the trail crossed it 276 times, according to our "arriero" muleteer.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Three companions, a captain, a muleteer, and a rogue, arrive at an inn owned by a widow who enjoys banter.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Rickey says that muleteers deal with the soroche by punching holes in the ears of their mules.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • At this moment, a Moroccan perched on a mule and its muleteer overtook us: "You should ride a mule like me; it's easier!" laughed the man on the mule.

    Blog text (1)
  • Indians, laborers, farmers, and married men tended generally to stay closest to home, while Spaniards, small merchants, muleteers, and single men wandered furthest afield.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Bob has spent almost all of the time since 4:30 p.m. dickering with muleteers to take us to Topia—a four-day trip, and a little better than way across the mountains to Culiacan.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

driver
vsmuleteer
53 5.8

A person who guides animals that pull a carriage or wagon

adds responsibility for long-term animal care, not only guiding them
skinner
vsmuleteer
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who drives animals like mules to pull carts

focuses on both driving and caring for these animals as a regular job
mule skinner
vsmuleteer
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who drives and cares for a group of mules

has identical work meaning but is the traditional name for that occupation
mule driver
vsmuleteer
6.7

A person who leads mules to carry goods

covers driving plus long-term care as an occupation rather than only transport

How Skilled

muleteer
1 9.9
helper
79 1.0

Surface Forms

muleteer singular
muleteers plural

Morphology

muleteer = mule (transparent) = mule + teer

The meaning is directly inferable as an agent noun formed from 'mule' plus an agentive suffix meaning 'person who handles mules'.

Etymology

The word muleteer is made from the common word mule plus an old ending that means 'a person who works with them', seen in French muletier and Spanish muletero. So a muleteer is literally a 'mule driver' who leads and cares for mules.