colporteur

enUK

col·por·teur

C0493000 (kŏl′pôr′tər)n. A peddler of devotional literature.
[French, alteration (influenced by col, neck, from the idea that peddlers carry their wares on trays suspended from straps around their necks) of Old French comporteur, from comporter, to conduct, peddle; see comport.]

colporteur

(ˈkɒlˌpɔːtə; French kɔlpɔrtœr) n (Commerce) a hawker of books, esp bibles[C18: from French, from colporter, probably from Old French comporter to carry (see comport); influenced through folk etymology by porter à col to carry on one's neck] ˈcolˌportage n

col•por•teur

(ˈkɒlˌpɔr tər, -ˌpoʊr-)

n. a person who travels to sell or publicize Bibles, religious tracts, etc. [1790–1800; < French]
Translations
Kolporteur