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

by George Gibbs

~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.