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

Guide-Book to the Gold Regions of Frazer River. With a map of the different routes, &c. 24mo, pp. 55. New York, 1858.

A vocabulary of the Jargon, pp. 45-55.

The Chinook Jargon and English and French Equivalent Forms. In "Steamer Bulletin," San Francisco, June 21, 1858.

Contains an unarranged vocabulary of 354 words and phrases.

The Canoe and the Saddle. By Theodore Winthrop. 12mo. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1863.

"A partial vocabulary of the Chinook Jargon," pp. 299-302.

History of the Oregon Territory, &c. By John Dunn. 2d edition. London, 1846.

"A few specimens of the language of the Millbank and Chinook tribes." Chinook tribe: 50 words and phrases, including digits. These words, as usual, are in great part "Jargon," and belong to the Nootkan, not to the Chinook.

Besides the above, one, of which I have not the title before me, has been published by Mr. A.C. Anderson, and several in the newspapers of Oregon and Washington Territory.

~PART I.~
CHINOOK-ENGLISH

NOTE.—The references, "Hale," "Cook," "Jewitt," are respectively to Hale's "Ethnology of the United States Exploring Expedition," "Cook's Voyages," and "Jewitt's Narrative." The others, as "Anderson," "Pandosy," "Shaw," "Tolmie," are from manuscript notes of those gentlemen in possession of the writer.

A DICTIONARY OF THE CHINOOK JARGON

PART I. CHINOOK-ENGLISH

~A.~

~Ah-ha~, adv. Common to various tribes. Yes. Expression of simple assent. On Puget Sound, E-ÉH.

~Ah'n-kut-te~, or ~Ahn-kot-tie~, adv. Chinook, ANKUTTI. Formerly; before now. With the accent prolonged on the first syllable, a long time ago. Ex. Ahnkutte lakit sun, four days ago; Tenas ahnkutte, a little while since.

~Al-áh~, interj. Expression of surprise. Ex. Alah mika chahko! ah, you've come!

~Al-kie~, adv. Chinook, ALKEKH. Presently; in a little while; hold on; not so fast.

~Al'-ta~, adv. Chinook, ALTAKH. Now; at the present time.

~A-mo'-te~, n. Chinook, AMUTE; Clatsop, KLABOTÉ. The strawberry.

~An-áh~, interj. An exclamation denoting pain, displeasure, or depreciation. Ex. Anah nawitka mika halo shem, ah, indeed you are without shame. On Puget Sound, Ad-de-dáh.

~Ats~, n. Chinook, idem; Yakama, ATSE (Pandosy). A sister younger than the speaker. In the original, only when used by her brother.

~A-yáh-whul~, v. Chihalis, ATAHWUL. To lend; borrow.

~Ay-kéh-nam.~See EH-KAH-NAM.

~B.~

~Bé-be~, n., v. French. A word used towards children; probably a repetition of the first syllable of BAISER. A kiss; to kiss.

~Bed~, n. English, idem. A bed.

~Bit~, or ~Mit~, n. English, BIT. A dime or shilling.

~Bloom~, n. English, BROOM. A broom. Mamook bloom, to sweep.

~Boat~, n. English, idem. A boat, as distinguished from a canoe.

~Bos'-ton~, n., adj. An American; American. A name derived from the hailing-place of the first trading-ships to the Pacific. Boston illahie, the United States.

~Bur-dash~, n. Can. French, BERDACHE (Anderson). An hermaphrodite. The reputation of hermaphroditism is not uncommon with Indians, and seems to attach to every malformation of the organs of generation. The word is of very limited use.

~C.~

~Cal'-li-peen~, n. French, CARABINE. A rifle.

~Ca-nim~, n. Chinook, EKANIM. A canoe. Canim stick, the cedar, or wood from which canoes are usually made.

~Ca-po'~, n. French, CAPOT. A coat.

~Chah'-ko~, v. Nootka, Clayoquot, CHAKO; Tokwaht, TCHOKWA. To come; to become. Ex. Kansik mika chahko? when did you come? Chahko kloshe, to get well.

~Chák chak~, n. Chinook, idem. The bald eagle (by onoma.), from its scream. Of only local use on the lower Columbia.

~Chee~, adv., adj. Chinook, T'SHI. Lately; just now; new. Chee nika ko, I have just arrived. Hyas chee, entirely new.

~Chet'-lo~, or ~Jet'-lo~, n. Chihalia, CHETLOKH. An oyster. Used on the lower Columbia.

~Chet-woot~, n. Nisqually, idem. A black bear. Used only on Puget

Sound.

~Chik'-a-min~, n., adj. Tokwaht, TSIKAMEN; Nootka, SICKAMINNY (Jewitt); SEEKEMAILE (Cook). Iron; metal; metallic. T'kope chikamin, silver; pil chikamin, gold or copper. Chikamin lope, wire; a chain.

~Chik-chik~. See TSIK-TSIK.

~Chil-chil~. See TSIL-TSIL.

~Chitsh~, n. Chihalis, TSHITSH. A grandmother.

~Chope~, n. Chihalis, TSHUP. A grandfather.

~Cho'-tub~, n. Nisqually, idem. A flea. Used on Puget Sound.

~Chuck~, n. Nootka, CHAUK (Cook); CHAHAK, fresh water (Jewitt); Chinook, TLTSUK (Shortess); Clatsop, TL'CHUKW. Water; a river or stream. Salt chuck, the sea; skookum chuck, a rapid; solleks chuck, a rough sea; chuck chahko or kalipi, the tide rises or falls; saghilli and keekwillie chuck, high and low tide.

~Chuk-kin~, n., v. Chihalis, TSUKAEN. To kick. Of local use only.

~Close.~ See KLOSE.

~Cly~, v. English. To cry.

~Cole~, adj. English, COLD. Cole illahie, winter; icht cole, a year; cole sick waum sick, the fever and ague.

~Comb~, n. English. A comb. Mamook comb, to comb; mamook comb illahie, to harrow.

~Coo'-ley~, v. French, COUREZ, imp. of COURIR. To run. Cooley kiuatan, a race-horse; yahka hyas kumtuks cooley, he can, i.e., knows how to run well.

~Coop'-coop~, n. Chinook, idem. The smaller sized dentalium or shell money. See HYKWA.

~Co'-sho~, n. French, COCHON. A hog; pork. Siwash cosho, a seal; literally, Indian pig.

~Cul'-tus~, adj. Chinook, KALTAS. Worthless; good for nothing; without purpose. Ex. Cultus man, a worthless fellow; cultus potlatch, a present or free gift; cultus heehee, a jest; merely laughing; cultus nannitsh, to look around; cultus mitlite, to sit idle; to do nothing; cultus klatawa, to stroll. Ques. What do you want? Ans. Cultus, i.e., nothing.

~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.