Mr. Hale supposed this to be a corruption of the French word Français. It is, however, really derived from the foregoing word, PASISI, with the terminal UKS, which is a plural form applied to living beings. Lewis and Clarke (vol. ii., p. 413) give Pashisheooks, clothmen, as the Chinook name for the whites, and this explanation was also furnished me by people of that tribe. It has since been generally restricted to the French Canadians, though among some of the tribes east of the Cascade Range, it is applied indiscriminately to all the Hudson's Bay people.
~Pchih~, or ~Pit-chih~, adj. Quære u. d. Thin in dimension, as of a board. (Shaw.) Not in common use.
~Pe-chúgh~, adj. Chinook, PTSEKH. Green.
~Pee~, conj. French, PUIS. (Anderson.) Then; besides; and; or; but.
Pee weght, and also; besides which; pee nika wauwau wake, but I say,
No.
~Peh'-pah~, n. English, PAPER. Paper; a letter; any writing. Mamook pehpah, to write.
~Pel'-ton~, n., adj. Jargon. A fool; foolish; crazy. Kahkwa pelton, like a fool; hyas pelton mika, you are very silly. The Indians adopted this word from the name of a deranged person, Archibald Pelton, or perhaps Felton, whom Mr. Wilson P. Hunt found on his journey to Astoria, and carried there with him. The circumstance is mentioned by Franchêre, in his "Narrative," trans, p. 149.
~Pe-shak'~, or ~Pe-shuk'~, adj. Nootka, PESHUK; Nittinat, idem. Bad.
~Pe-what'-tie~, adj. Chinooi, PIHWÁTI. Thin, like paper, &c.
~Pi'-ah~, n., adj. English, FIRE. Fire; ripe; cooked. Mamook piah, to cook; to burn; piah-ship, a steamer; piah olillie, ripe berries; piah sapolill, baked bread; piah sick, the venereal disease; saghillie piah, lightning.
~Pil~, adj. Chinook, TLPELPEL. Father Pandosy gives PILPILP, as signifying red, in the Nez Percé or Sahaptin, also. Red; of a reddish color. Pil illahie, red clay or vermilion; pil dolla, gold; pil chickamin, copper; pil kiuatan, a bay or chestnut horse.