camelots

Camelots is the plural form of camelot, a term used in French to describe a street vendor who sells newspapers, magazines, and small goods in public spaces such as markets, train stations, and sidewalks. The word is often translated into English as hawker or street vendor. In historical contexts, camelots were a regular feature of urban life in many French-speaking regions, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when licensing, taxation, and urban regulation shaped street commerce.

One notable historical association is the Camelots du Roi, the youth wing of a monarchist political movement in early 20th-century France. The Camelots du Roi distributed political literature, organized demonstrations, and participated in street-level political activity, illustrating how publishing, propaganda, and urban public space intersected during that era. Their activities were part of broader tensions between political factions in the period.

In contemporary usage, the term camelot may still be applied to street vendors in some contexts, though the occupation has declined in many places due to changes in media distribution, licensing practices, and urban regulation. The term remains primarily historical in popular consciousness, but it can still describe individuals who sell newspapers, magazines, or similar items directly to passersby in public settings.