The buying and selling of animal furs for profit. This trade was significant during European colonization in North America due to the abundance of fur-bearing animals such as beavers.
Related terms
Hudson's Bay Company: A British fur trading business that operated in North America from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Beaver Wars: A series of conflicts between Native American tribes over control of land rich in fur-bearing animals.
Coureur des bois: French fur traders who lived among Native American communities while engaging in the fur trade.