A person who travels around distributing or selling religious books, pamphlets, and moral literature, especially as a job or religious calling.
From French 'colporteur,' derived from 'col' (neck) + 'porter' (to carry). Originally any peddler; became specialized for religious literature distributors in organized campaigns.
American and European religious organizations created entire networks of colporters in the 1800s—they were like religious missionaries with a suitcase, and their work literally shaped which ideas spread through rural communities.
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