coltiner

to lug, to carry (heavy loads)

verb kol-tee-NAY Rare

Usage Note

Coltiner originally described the work of a coltineur — a dock or market porter who carried loads on his back. It remains colloquial and slightly familiar: se coltiner une tâche ingrate means to be saddled with a thankless task. The reflexive se coltiner (to be stuck with, to shoulder) is very common in modern spoken French.

Examples

"Il a dû coltiner des caisses toute la matinée."

Natural Translation

He had to lug crates all morning.

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