Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon, or, Trade Language of Oregon

~D.~

~De-láte~, or ~De-létt~, adj., adv. French, DROITE. Straight; direct; without equivocation. Ex. Klatawa delett, go straight; delett wauwau, tell the truth.

~Di-áub~, or ~Yaub~, n. French, DIABLE. The devil. Sometimes used combined with the article, as LEJAUB.

~D'ly~, or ~De-ly~, adj. English, DRY. Chahko dely, to become dry; mamook dely, to dry, v. a.

~Doc'-tin~, n. English. A doctor.

~Dol'-la~, or ~Táh-la~, n. English. A dollar; money. Chikamin dolla, silver; pil dolla, gold; dolla siághost, spectacles.

~E.~

~Eh-káh-nam~, n. Chinook, EKANAM. A tale or story. Used only on the

Columbia river. Often erroneously pronounced Ay-keh-nam.

~Eh-ko-li~, n. Chinook, ÉKOLI. A whale.

~Ee'-na~, n. Chinook, IINA. A beaver. Eena stick (literally, beaver wood), the willow.

~Ee'-na-poo~, or ~In-a-poo~, n. Chinook, INAPU. A louse. Sopen inapoo, a flea.

~Ek'-keh~, n. Chinook, EKKE. A brother-in-law.

~E'-la-han~, or ~E-lánn~, n. Chihalis, YELAÁN. Aid; assistance; alms.

Mamook elann, to help.

~E'-lip~, or ~El'-ip~, adv. Chihalis, ILIP. First; before. The superlative. Klatawa elip, go before; elip lolo chuck, in the first place carry water; elip kloshe, best; elip tilikum, n. (literally, the first people), a race of beings who inhabited the world before the Indians.

~E-li'-te~, n. Chinook, ILAITEKH. A slave.

~E-sált'h~, or ~Ye-sált'h~, n. Probably Wasco. Indian corn or maize.

~G.~

~Get-up~, or ~Ket-op~, v. English. To get up; rise.

~Glease~, n. English, GREASE, fat, grease, or oil. Hyeu glease, very fat; too-toosh glease, butter. See, also, LAKLES.

~H.~

~Háh-lakl~, adj. Chinook, HÁLAKL. Wide; open. Ex. Mamook hahlakl la pote, open the door; chahko hallakl (as of the woods), to open out; become less dense.

~Háht-haht~, n. Nisqually, HATHAT. The mallard duck.

~Hák-at-shum~, n. English. A handkerchief.

~Ha'-lo~, adj. Quære u. d. not Chinook. None; absent. Q. Halo salmon mika? have you no fish? A. Halo, none. Q. Kah mika papa? where is your father? A. Halo, he is out. Halo wind, breathless; dead; halo glease, lean; halo ikta, poor; destitute.

~Haul~, v. English, idem. To haul or pull. Used with the active verb mamook; as, mamook haul.

~Hee'-hee~, n. By onoma., HIHI (Hale). Laughter, amusement. Cultus heehee, fun; mamook heehee, to amuse; heehee house, any place of amusement, as a tavern, bowling-alley, &c.

~Hóh-hoh~, n., v. Chinook (by onoma.), HOKHHOKH. To cough.

~Hó-ku-melh~, v. Chihalis, idem. To gather; to glean, as grain. Of local use.

~Hóol-hool~, n. Chinook, KHOLKHOL; Klikatat. KHOILKHOIL. A mouse. Eyas hoolhool, a rat.

~House~, n. English. A house. Mahkook house, a store; Boston house, an American-built house, as distinguished from a lodge.

~Howh~, interj. HAUKH. Turn to; hurry.

~How'-kwutl~, adv. Chinook, HAUKATLH. An expression of inability. Ex.

Howkwutl nika klatawa? how could I go?

~Hul-lel'~, v., n. Chinook, idem. To shake. Used with the verb mamook, as, mamook hullel, it becomes active.

~Hul-ó-i-ma~, n., adj. Chinook, S'HULLOYIBA. Other; another; different. Ex. Huloima tilikum, a different tribe or people; hyas huloima, very different.

~Humm~, n., v. Jargon. A stink or smell; to stink. An invented word.

Humm opootsh, a skunk.

~Hunl'-kih~, adj. Chinook, HUNLKEKH. Curled or curly; knotted; crooked.

~Huy-huy~, n., v. Canadian French, HUI-HUI. A bargain or exchange; to barter or trade. Ex. Huyhuy la sille, change the saddle; huyhuy tumtum, to change one's mind. Mr. Andersen says this is a cant word of the Canadians, signifying a hasty exchange. Its origin has been suggested in oui oui, yes yes.

~Hwah~, or ~Hwah-wa~, interj. Denotes surprise or admiration; also earnestness.

~Hy'-ak~, adv., also used as imperative. Chinook, AI-AK. Swift; fast; quickly; hurry; make haste.

~Hy-as'~, adj., adv. Probably corrupted from the following. Large; great; very. The general term for size. Hyas tyee, a great chief; hyas mahcook, a great price; dear; hyas ahnkutte, a long time ago; hyas kloshe, very good.

~Hy-iú~, n., adj. Nootka, IYAHISH (Jewitt); Tokwaht, AIYA. Jewitt also gives HYO as the name for ten. Much; many; plenty; enough. Term of quantity or multitude. Hyiu tilikum, a crowd; many people; hyiu muckamuck, plenty to eat; tenas hyiu, some; a, few; wake hyiu, not many or not much.

~Hy'-kwa~, or ~Hy'-a-kwa~, n. Nootka, HAIHWA (i-whaw, Jewitt). The dentalium; the shell money or wampum of the Pacific coast. It is used in strings of a fathom long; shells of not more than forty to the fathom being of full size, and the value increasing in proportion to their length. The smaller sizes are called coop-coop (q.v.). These shells were formerly obtained by the Indians of the west coast of Vancouver Island, and passed in barter as low down as California, and eastward to the Blackfoot country.

~I.~

~Ik'-kik~, n. Chinook, IKKIK.A fish-hook.

~Ik-poo'-ie~, v. Chinook, IKHPUI. To shut. Ikpooie la pote, shut the door; mamook ikpooie, to surround; ikpooie kwillan, deaf.

~Ikt~, or ~Icht~, adj. Chinook, IKHT. One; once. Used also as the indefinite article. Ikt man, a man; ikt-ikt man, some one or other; here and there one; ikt nika klatawa kopa yakka house, I have been once to his house.

~Ik'-tah~, pron. Chinook, IKTA. What. Iktah okook, what is that? iktah mika tikegh, what do you want? iktah, well, what now?

~Ik'-tah, n. From the foregoing. A thing; goods; merchandise; clothing. Hyiu tenas iktah, a great many trifles. The use of the same word for what and for things, has been noticed in some other languages of this coast.

~Il'-la-hie~, n. Chinook, ILAHEKH. The ground; the earth; dirt. Tipso illahie, prairie; saghallie illahie, mountains, or high land; heaven; hyiu illahie kopa, dirty (literally, much dirt upon).

~In'-a-ti~, or ~Een-a-ti~, prep., adv. Chinook, INATAI. Across; opposite to; on the other side of. Inati chuck, on the other side of the river; klatawa inati, to cross over.

~Ip'-soot~, v. a., v. n. Chinook, ALHUPSO. To hide one's self, or any thing; to keep secret. Ipsoot klatawa, to steal off; ipsoot wau-wau, to whisper.

~Is'-ick~, n. Chinook, ISIK. A paddle. Mamook isick, to paddle.

~Is'-ick stick~, n. Chinook and English. The ash. Literally, paddle-wood.

~Is'-kum~, v. Chinook, idem. To take; take hold of; hold; get. Iskum okook lope, hold on to that rope; mika na iskum? did you get it?

~It'-lan~, or ~It'h-lan~, n. Chinook, ITHLANA. A fathom; the length of the extended arms.

~It'-lo-kum~, n. Chinook, idem; Chihalis, SETLOKUM. The game of "hand,"—a common amusement. Mamook itlokum, to gamble.

~Itl'-wil-lie~, n. Chinook, ETLWILI. The flesh; meat of any animal.

Konaway nika itlwillie sick, all my flesh is sore.

~Its'-woot~, or ~Its'-hoot~, n. Chinook, EITSHHUT. A black bear.

Itshoot paseesie, thick dark cloth or blankets.

~K.~

~Kah~, adv. Chinook, KAKH. Where; whither; whence. Kah mika mitlite? where do you live? konaway kah, everywhere; kah-kah, here and there.

~Kah'-kah~, n. Chinook and Nisqually (by onoma.), SKAKA. A crow.

~Káh-kwa~, adv. Nootka; Tokwaht, ACHKO. Like; similar to; equal with; as. Kahkwa nika tumtum, so I think (literally, such [is] my heart); kahkwa hyas nika, as large as I; kahkwa spose, as if; kloshe kahkwa, that is right; good so.

~Kah'-na-way~, n. Chinook, T'KANAWÉ. Acorns. Kahnaway stick, the oak. Used only on the Columbia river.

~Káhp-ho~, _n._Chinook, idem. An elder brother, sister, or cousin.

~Káh-ta~, adv. Chinook, KÁTA. How; why. Kahta mika mamook okook? why do you do that? kahta mika chahko? how did you come? kahta mika? what is the matter with you? pe kahta? and why so?

~Kal-ak-a-láh-ma~, n. Chinook, OKALAKALAMA. A goose. Used on the lower

Columbia river.

~Kal-a-kwáh-tie~, n. Chinook, KALAKWATI; Clatsop, KL'WHELATL. The inner bark of the cedar (thuja); the petticoat, or skirt, formerly worn by women, and often made of strands of bark. Kalakwahtie stick, the cedar-tree.

~Ka-li'-tan~, n. Chinook, TKLAITAN. An arrow; shot; a bullet. Kalitan le sac, a quiver; a shot-pouch.

~Kal-lak'-a-la~, or ~Kul-luk'-ul-la~, n. Chinook, KALÁKALA. A bird.

~Kám-ass~, or ~Lá-kam-ass~, n. Nootka. The Scilla esculenta,—a bulbous root used for food by the Indians. Jewitt gives CHAMASS as the Nootka for fruit, also for sweet, or pleasant to the taste.

~Kám-ooks~, n. Chinook, KLKÁBOKES. A dog. Kahkwa kamooks, like a dog; beastly.

~Ka-mo'-suk~, n. Chinook, idem. Beads. Tyee kamosuk (chief beads), the large blue glass beads.

~Kap-su-ál-la~. Quære u. d. To steal. Kapsualla klatawa, to steal away; kapsualla mamook, to do secretly.

~Kát-suk~, or ~Kót-suk~, n. Chinook, idem. The middle or centre of any thing.

~Kau'-py~, n. English. Coffee.

~Ka-wák~, v. Chihalis, KAUAK. To fly. Not in general use.

~Káw-ka-wak~, adj. Chinook, KÂKAWAK. Yellow, or pale green.

~Keé-kwil-lie~, prep. Chinook, KIK'HWILI. Low; below; under; beneath; down. Mamook keekwillie, to lower; mitlite keekwillie, to set down; put under. Not used in the sense of "down stream."

~Keep'-wot~, n. Chinook, OKWÉPOWA; Yakama, KAPUS, a pin (Pandosy). A needle; the sting of an insect; a thorn. Shoes keepwot, an awl.

~Keh'-loke~, n. Chinook, idem. A swan. Of local use only.

~Keh'-see~, or ~Ki'-su~, n. Chinook, EKÉSO. An apron.

~Kéh-wa~, adv. Quære u. d. Because. Not in common use.

~Kel'-a-pi~, or ~Ká-la-pi~, v. Chinook, KELAPAI. To turn; return; overturn; upset. Kelapi canim, to upset a canoe; hyak kelapi, come back quickly; kelapi kopa house, go back to the house; mamook kelapi, to bring, send, or carry back; kelapi tumtum, to change one's mind.

~Kes'-chi~, or ~Kéh-tsie~. Chinook, KUKHTSI (Anderson). Notwithstanding; although. Keschi yakka mamook kahkwa, although he did so. Not in common use.

~Ket'-ling~, or ~Kit'-ling~, n. English. A kettle; can; basin, &c.

~Kil-it'-sut~, n. Chinook, OKWILIKTSHUT. Flint; a bottle; glass.

~Kim'-ta~, or ~Kim-tah'~, prep. Chinook, KIMTA. Behind; after; afterwards; last; since. Klatawa kimtah, go behind; nika elip, pe yakka kimtah, I first, and he afterwards; okook kimtah, the one behind; kimtah nika nannitsh mika, since I saw you.

~King Chautsh~, adj. English, KING GEORGE. English. King chautshman, an Englishman.

~Ki'-nootl~, or ~Ki'-noos~, n. Chinook, EKAINUTL. Tobacco.

~Kish-kish~, v. Chinook, idem. To drive, as cattle or horses.

~Kiu'-a-tan~, n. Chinook, IKIUATAN. Cooley kiuatan, a race-horse; stone kiuatan, a stallion.

~Ki'-wa~, adj. Wasco, KAIWA (Shaw). Crooked. Of only local use.

~Ki'-yah~, n. Chihalis, KAIYAKH. Entrails.

~Klah~, adj. Chinook, KLAKH. Free or clear from; in sight. Ex. Chee yakka klah, now he is in sight; klatawa klah, to escape, as a prisoner; chahko klah (of seed), to come up; (of the woods), to open out; (of the weather), to clear up; mamook klah, to uncover. Mr. Anderson gives as the original meaning, to open out or appear.

~Klah-hanie'~, or ~Klagh-anie'~, adv. Chinook, KLAKHANI. Out of doors; out; without. Ex. Mamook klaghanie okook, put that out; klatawa klaghanie, to go out.

~Kla'-how-ya.~ The ordinary salutation at meeting or parting. How do you do? good-bye; as, klahowya sikhs, good-bye, friend.

~Kla-hów-yum~, adj., n. Chinook, KLAHÁUIA. Poor; miserable; wretched; compassion. Ex. Hyas klahowyum nika, I am very poor; mamook klahowyum, to take pity on; give alms; be generous.

The salutation above given probably originated in some whining reply to the first whites, and a distinction has since arisen between the two modes of spelling, which is, however, purely arbitrary.

~Kláh-wa~, adv. Chinook, KLAWAKH. Slow; slowly. Ex. Klatawa klahwa, go slowly.

~Klak~, adv. Chinook, KLAKW. [To take] off. Ex. Mamook klak stone kiuatan, to castrate a horse; mamook klak l'assiette, take off the plates; klak kopa wayhut, get out of the road.

~Klák-sta~, or ~Kluk'-sta~, pron. Chinook, T'KLUKSTA. Ex. Klaksta mamook okook? who made or did that? halo klaksta, no one.

~Klák-wun~, or ~Kléh-kwan~, v. Chihalis, KLAKWUN.To wipe, or lick.

Klakwun l'assiette, to wipe a plate.

~Klale~, or ~T'klale~, adj. Chinook, TLEHL. Black, or dark blue, or green.

~Klap~, v. Chinook, KLAP. To find. Ex. Mika na klap mika kiuatan? did you find your horse? klap tenas, to be with child.

~Kla'-pite~, n. Chinook, KLIPAIT. Thread; twine.

~Klás-ka~, or ~Klus'-ka~, pron. Chinook, KLUSKA. They; thine; them.

~Klat'-a-wa~, v. Nootka, KLATTUNWAH (Jewitt); Nittinat, KLATÖUKH. To go. Klatawa teáhwit, to walk; go on foot; klatawa kopa kiuatan, to ride; klatawa kopa boat, to sail; mamook klatawa, to send.

~Kla-wháp~, n. Chinook, KLHUAP. A hole. Mamook klawhap, to dig a hole.

~Klem'-a-hun~, v. Chihalis, idem. To stab; to wound; to dart; to cast as a spear; to hook or gore as an ox. Nika klemahun samun, I spear salmon.

~Klihl~, or ~Klilt~, adj. Chinook, KLIHL. Bitter. Not of universal use. Mr. Hale makes it KLITL, sour.

~Klik'-a-muks~, n. Chinook, KLIKABUKS. Blackberries, or more properly dewberries.

~Klik'-wal-lie~, or ~Kloke'-wal-lie~. Chinook, KLIKWALI. Brass wire; an armlet or bracelet of brass wire. Mr. Anderson gives the original meaning as simply brass.

~Klim-in'-a-whit~, n., v. Chinook, KLIMINAWHUT. A lie; to lie. Hyas kumtuks kliminawhit, he is a great liar (literally, he knows well how to lie).

~Klim'-min~, or ~Klimmin-klimmin~, adj. Chinook, TKLEMIN-TKLEMIN. Soft; fine in substance. The reduplication denotes the diminutive, but in jargon it is generally used singly. Ex. Klimmin sapoleel, flour; klimmin illahie, mud; marshy ground; mamook klimmin, to soften as by dressing a skin.

~Klip~, adj. Chinook, KELIPE; Chihalis, KLUPUTL; Nisqually, KLEP. Deep; sunken. Klip chuck, deep water; klip sun, sunset.

~Klis'-kwiss~, n. Chinook, idem. A mat.

~Klógh-klogh~, n. Chinook, OKLÓKHKLO. Oysters. The word is common to the Puget Sound tribes, as well as to the Chinooks.

~Klo-náss~, adv. Chinook, idem. Expression of uncertainty or doubt. Perhaps; I don't know; may be so; who knows? Equivalent to the Spanish quien sabe. Ex. Klonass nika klatawa, perhaps I shall go. Q. Kah mika kahpho? where is your brother? A. Klonass, I don't know.

~Klone~, adj. Chinook, TKLON. Three.

~Klook~, adj. English. Crooked. Klook teáhwit, broken legged; lame.

~Klootch-man~, n. Nootka and Tokwaht, KLUTSMA. A woman; a female of any animal. Tenas klootshman, a girl; klootchman kiuatan, a mare.

~Klose~, or ~Kloshe~, adj., adv. Nootka; Tokwaht, KLOHTL; Makah, KLOTELO; Nisqually, KLOB. Good; well; well enough. Kloshe nannitsh, look out; take care; hyas kloshe, very well.

~Klose-spose~. Nootka, KLOHTL; English, SUPPOSE. Shall or may I; let me. Ex. Klose-spose nika mamook pia okook? shall I cook that? (literally, [is it] good that I make cook that?).

~Klugh~, or ~Klugh-klugh~. Chinook, KLUKH. To tear. Mamook klugh illahie, to plough (literally, to tear the ground).

~Kluk-ulh'~, or ~Klak-alh'~, adj. Chihalis, TLUKUTLH. Broad or wide, as of a plank.

~Ko~, v. Chinook, idem. To reach; arrive at. Chee klaska ko, they have just come; kansih nesika ko kopa Nisqually? when shall we reach Nisqually.

~Ko'-ko~, v. Chinook (by onoma). To knock. Koko stick, a wood-pecker.

~Kok'-shut~, v. Nootka, KAKHSHETL; Klaokwat, KWÁCHITL. In the original, dead. To break; broken; to beat. Hyas kokshut, broken to pieces.

~Kon'-a-way~, adj. Chinook, KÁNAWÉ. All; every. Klaska konaway klatawa, they have all gone; konaway tilikum, everybody; konaway kah, everywhere.

~Koo'-sah~, or ~Kó-sah~, n. Chinook, EKÓSAKH. The sky. Only used on the Columbia.

~Ko'-pa~, adv., prep. Chinook, idem. To; in; at; with; towards; of; about; concerning; there or in that place. Ex. Kopa nika house, at my house; lolo okook kopa mika, take that home with you (equivalent to the French chez vous); cultus kopa nika, it is nothing to me. Q. Kah okook lope? where is that rope? A. (motioning with the chin towards the place) Kopáh.

~Ko-pet'~, v., adv. Chinook, idem. To stop; leave off; enough. Kopet wau-wau, stop talking; kopet ikt, only one; kopet okook, that's all; wake siah kopet, nearly finished; kopet tomalla, day after to-morrow.

~Kow~, v. Chinook, KAU-KAU. To tie; to fasten. Kow mika kiuatan, tie your horse; ikt kow, a bundle.

~Kull~, adj. Chinook, K'HUL-K'HUL. Hard in substance; difficult. Chahko kull, to become hard; mamook kull, to harden; to cause to become hard; hyas kull spose mamook, it is very hard to do so; kull stick, oak or any hard wood.

~Kul-lagh'~, or ~Kul-lagh'-an~, n. Chihalis, KULLAKH; Lummi, KULLUKHAN. A fence; a corral, or inclosure. Kullagh stick, fence rails. In the original, it meant the stockade with which Indian houses are often surrounded.

~Kum'-tuks~, or ~Káme-taks~, v. Nootka, KOMMETAK (Jewitt); Tokwaht, KUMITUKS; Clayoquot, KEMITAK. To know; understand; be acquainted with; imagine; believe. Mamook kumtuks, to explain; teach; hyas kumtuks solleks (literally, well to understand anger), to be passionate; kopet kumtuks, to forget; halo kumtuks, stupid; without understanding; (of a horse) hyas yakka kumtuks cooley, he can run fast (literally, he knows well to run); kumtuks kliminawhit, to be a liar; to understand lying; nika kumtuks okook tyee, I know that chief; nika kumtuks Klikatat wau-wau, I understand the Klikatat language.

~Kun'-a-moxt~, adj. Chinook, KONAWAY MOXT. Both; together (literally, all two). Kunamoxt kahkwa, both alike.

~Kun'-sih, Kan'-sih, Kun'-juk, Kun'-jie~, adv. Chinook, KUNSÉUKH. How many; when; ever. Kunsih tilikum mitlite? how many people are there? kunsih mika klatawa? when do you go? wake kunsih, never; mamook kunsih, to count.

~Kush'-is~, n. Chihalis, KOSHIS. Stockings. In the original, any elastic article of dress. Not in general use.

~Kwah'-ne-sum~, adv. Chinook, KWÁNISUM; Yakama, KWÁLISIM. Always; forever.

~Kwáh'-nioe~, n. Klikatat, KWADDIS. A whale.

~Kwáhta~, n. English. The quarter of a dollar. The quarter of any number is usually expressed in Jargon by tenas sitku, i.e., a small half.

~Kwah'-tin~. See YAKWAHTIN.

~Kwaist~, or ~Kweest~, adj. Chinook, KWAITST. Nine.

~Kwa-lal'-kwa-lal'~, v. Chinook, KWULLIL-KWULLIL. To gallop.

~Kwal'h~, n. Chihalis, KWATLH. An aunt.

~Kwann~, adj. Chinook, KWAN-KWAN. Glad. According to Mr. Anderson, it means a custom or habit. It is used by some in this sense as tamed or broken, as of a horse (McCormick). KWAL is Nisqually for tame.

~Kwass~, adj. Chinook, idem. Fear; afraid; tame. Mamook kwass, to frighten; to tame.

~Kwates~, or ~Kwehts~, adj. Chihalis, KWETS. Sour.

~Kwéh-kweh~, n. Chinook, OKWÉKWE (by onoma). A mallard duck. Used chiefly at mouth of the Columbia.

~Kwék-wi-ens~, n. Chihalis, idem. A pin. Of limited use.

~Kwéo-kwéo~, n. Chinook, T'KWEO-KWEO. A ring; a circle.

~Kwetlh~, adj. Chihalis, idem. (Anderson). Proud. Not in general use.

~Kwin'-num~, adj. Chinook, KWENEM. Five.

~Kwish~, or ~Kweesh~, interj. Refusing any thing contemptuously.

Equivalent to "No you don't." Used on the lower Columbia.

~Kwit'-shad-ie~, n. Nisqually, KWUTSHDIE. The hare or rabbit. Confined to Puget Sound.

~Kwo-lann'~, or ~Kwo-lah'-nie~, n. Chihalis, KWOLÁN; Nisqually, KWILANI. The ear. Halo kwolann, or, ikpooie kwolann, deaf.

~Kwulh~, or ~Kwult~, v. Chinook, KWULT'H. To hit; to wound with an arrow or gun; to strike with a slick or stone; or in any manner without cutting; to hit.

~Kwun'-nun~, n. Chihalis, idem. A count; numbers. Ex. Mamook kwunnun, to count. Of merely local use.

~Kwutl~, adj. Chinook, idem. Literally, fast. To push or squeeze, as in packing; hyas mamook kwutl, haul tight.

~L.~

~La-bleed'~, n. French, LA BRIDE. A bridle.

~La-boos'~, n. French, LA BOUCHE. The mouth; mouth of a river. Moxt laboos, the forks of a river.