DICTIONARY OF THE CHINOOK JARGON, OR, TRADE LANGUAGE OF OREGON. [ABRIDGED] By George Gibbs. New York: Cramoisy Press. 1863 PREFACE The origin of this Jargon, a conventional language similar to the Lingua Franca of the Mediterranean, the Negro-English-Dutch of Surinam, the Pigeon English of China, and several other mixed tongues, dates back to the fur droguers of the last century. Those mariners whose enterprise in the fifteen years preceding 1800, explored the intricacies of the northwest coast of America, picked up at their general rendezvous, Nootka Sound, various native words useful in barter, and thence transplanted them, with additions from the English, to the shores of Oregon. Even before their day, the coasting trade and warlike expeditions of the northern tribes, themselves a sea-faring race, had opened up a partial understanding of each other's speech; for when, in 1792, Vancouver's officers visited Gray's Harbor, they found that the natives, though speaking a different language, understood many words of the Nootka. On the arrival of Lewis and Clarke at the mouth of the Columbia, in 1806, the new language, from the sentences given by them, had evidently attained some form. It was with the arrival of Astor's party, however, that the Jargon received its principal impulse. Many more words of English were then brought in, and for the first time the French, or rather the Canadian and Missouri patois of the French, was introduced. The principal seat of the company being at Astoria, not only a large addition of Chinook words was made, but a considerable number was taken from the Chihalis, who immediately bordered that tribe on the north, each owning a portion of Shoalwater Bay. The words adopted from the several languages were, naturally enough, those most easily uttered by all, except, of course, that objects new to the natives found their names in French or English, and such modifications were made in pronunciation as suited tongues accustomed to different sounds. . Grammatical forms were reduced to their simplest expression, and variations in mood and tense conveyed only by adverbs or by the context. The language continued to receive additions, and assumed a more distinct and settled meaning, under the Northwest and Hudson's Bay companies, who succeeded Astor's party, as well as through the American settlers in Oregon. Its advantage was soon perceived by the Indians, and the Jargon became to some extent a means of communication between natives of different speech, as well as between them and the whites. It was even used as such between Americans and Canadians. It was at first most in vogue upon the lower Columbia and the Willamette, whence it spread to Puget Sound, and with the extension of trade, found its way far up the coast, as well as the Columbia and Fraser rivers; and there are now few tribes between the 42d and 57th parallels of latitude in which there are not to be found interpreters through its medium. Its prevalence and easy acquisition, while of vast convenience to traders and settlers, has tended greatly to hinder the acquirement of the original Indian languages; so much so, that except by a few missionaries and pioneers, hardly one of them is spoken or understood by white men in all Oregon and Washington Territory. Notwithstanding its apparent poverty in number of words, and the absence of grammatical forms, it possesses much more flexibility and power of expression than might be imagined, and really serves almost every purpose of ordinary intercourse. The number of words constituting the Jargon proper has been variously stated. Many formerly employed have become in great measure obsolete, while others have been locally introduced. Thus, at the Dalles of the Columbia, various terms are common which would not be intelligible at Astoria or on Puget Sound. In making the following selection, I have included all those which, on reference to a number of vocabularies, I have found current at any of these places, rejecting, on the other hand, such as individuals, partially acquainted with the native languages, have employed for their own convenience. The total number falls a little short of five hundred words. A DICTIONARY OF THE CHINOOK JARGON. PART II. ENGLISH-CHINOOK A Above, ságh-a-lie Absolve, mam'-ook stoh Acorns, káh-na-way Across, in'-a-ti Afraid, kwass After, Afterwards, kim'-ta Again, weght All, kon'-a-way Alms, e'-la-han, or e-lann' Also, weght Although, kégh-tchie Always, kwáh-ne-sum American, Boston Amusement, hee'-hee And, pee Anger, Angry, sol'-leks Apple, le pome Apron, kéh-su, or ki'-su Arrive at, ko Arrow, ka-li'-tan As if, káh-kwa spose At, ko'-pa Aunt, kwal'h Awl, shoes keep'-wot Axe, la-hash' B Bad, me-sáh-chie; pe-shuk' Bag, le sak Ball, le bal Bargain, máh-kook; húy-húy Bark, s'ick-skin Barrel, ta-mo'-litsh Basket, o'-pe-kwan Beads, ka-mo'-suk Bear (black), chet'-woot; its'woot; (grizzly), si-am' Beat, to, kok'-shut Beaver, ee'-na Because, kéh-wa Become, to, cháh-ko Bed, bed Before, e'-lip, or el'-ip Behind, kim'-ta Bell, tin'-tin Belly, ya-kwáh-tin Below, kee'-kwil-lie Belt, la san-jel' Berries, o'-lil-lie; o'-lal-lie Best, e'-lip closhe Bird, kal-lak'-a-la Biscuit, le bis'-kwee Bitter, klihl Black, klale Blackberries, klik'-a-muks Blanket, pa-see'-sie Blind, ha'-lo se-áh-host Blood, pil-pil Blow out, mam'-ook poh Blue (light), spo'-oh Blue (dark), klale Blunder, to, tsee'-pie Board, la plash Boat, boat Bob-tailed; a bob-tailed horse, sis'-ki-you Boil, to, lip'-lip Bone, stone Borrow, to, a-yáh-whul Both, kun'-a-moxt Bottle, la-boo-ti' Bow, o'-pitl-kegh Bowl, oos'-kan Box, la ca-sett' Bracelet, klik'-wal-lie Brave, skoo'-kum tum'-tum Bread, le pan Break, to, kok'-shut Breech clout, o'-poots sill Bridle, la bleed Bright, to-wágh Broad, kluk-ulh' Broom, bloom Brother, káhp-ho, if elder than the speaker; ow, if younger. Male cousins the same Brother-in-law, ek'-keh Bucket, ta-mo'-litsh Buffalo, moos'-moos Bullet, le bal; ka-li'-tan Bundle, kow But, pe Butter, to-toosh' la-kles' Buttons, tsil'-tsil Buy, to, máh-kook By-and-by, win'-a-pie C Candle, la shan-del' Carrot, la ca-lat' Carry, to, lo' lo Cart, tsik'-tsik; chik'-chik Cascade, tum' wa-ter Cat, puss'-puss Cataract, tum' wa-ter Cattle, moos'-moos Certainly, na-wit'-ka Chain, la shen; chik'a-min lope Chair, la shase Cheat, to, la-láh Chicken, la pool Chief, ty-ee' Child, ten'-as Clams, o'-na; luk'-ut-chee; la-kwit'-chee Clams, the large kind, smet-ocks Clear up, to, cháh-ko klah Cloth (cotton), sail Clouds, smoke Coat, ca-po' Coffee, kau'-py Cold, cole; tshis Comb, comb Comb, to, mam'-ook comb Come, to, cháh-ko Confess, to, yi'-em Conjuring, ta-máh-no-us Cook, to, mam'-ook pi'-ah Copper, pil chik'-a-min Cord, ten'-as lope Corn, e-salt'h', or ye-salt'h' Corral, kul-lágh Cotton goods, sail Cough, hoh'-hoh Count, to, mam'-ook kwun'-nun Cousin, see brother and sister Coyote, tal'-a-pus Crab apple, pow'-itsh Cranberry, so'-le-mie Crazy, pel'-ton Cream colored, le clem Crooked, ki'-wa Cross, la clo-a' Crow, káh-kah Cry, to, cly Cup, oos'-kan Curly, hunl'-kih Cut, to, tl'ko'-pe D Dance, to, tanse Dark, darkness, po'-lak-lie Day, sun Dead, mem'-a-loost, Deaf, ik-poo'-ie kwil-lan Dear, hy'-as máh-kook Deep, klip Deer, mow'-itsh Demon, skoo'-kum Devil, di-aub'; yaub; le-jaub' Different, hul-o'-i-ma Difficult, kull Dig, to, mam'-ook il'-la-hie Dime, bit, or mit Do, to, mam'-ook Doctor, doc'-tin Dog, kam'-ooks Dollar, dol'-la, or táh-la Door, la po'te Down stream, mi'-mie Drink, to, muck'-a-muck Drive, to, kish'-kish Drunk, páht-lum Dry, de-ly' Duck (Mallard), kwéh-kweh; háht-haht Dust, po'-lal-lie E Eagle, chak'-chak Ear, kwo-lann' Early, ten'-as sun Earn, to, to'-lo Earth, il'-la-hie Eat, to, muck'-a-muck Egg, le sap'; le zep' Eight, sto'-te-kin Elk, moo'-lock Enclosure, kul-lágh English, king chautsh Englishman, king chautsh Enough, hi-yu'; ko-pet' Entreiils, ki-yágh Evening, ten'-as po'-lak-lie Every, kon'-a-way Exchange, húy-huy Eyes, se-áh-host F Face, se-áh-host Faded, spo'-oh Falsehood, klim-in'-a-whit Far, si-áh Fast (quick), hy-ak' Fast (tight), kwutl Fasten, to, kow Fat, glease Father, pa'-pa Fathom, it'-lan Fear, kwass Fell, to (as a tree), mam'-ook whim Fence, kul-lágh Fetch, to, mam'-ook cháh-ko Fever, waum sick Few, ten'-as Fight, to, mam'-ook sol'-leks Fight, with fists, mam'-ook puk'-puk Figured (as calico), tzum File, la leem Fill, to, mam'-ook pahtl Find, to, klap Fingers, le doo Fire, pi'-ah; o-la-pits'-ki First, e'-lip, or el'-ip Fish, pish Fish-hook, ik'-kik Five, kwin'-num Flea, so'-pen e'-na-poo; cho'-tub Flesh, itl'-wil-lie Flint, kil-it'-sut Flour, sap'-o-lill Fly, to, ka-wak' Fog, smoke Food, muck'-a-muck Fool, pel'-ton Foolish, pel'-ton Foot, le-pee' Forever, kwáh-ne-sum Forget, to, máh-lie Fork, la poo-shet' Formerly, áhn-kut-te, or áhn-kot-tie Four, lak'-it, or lok'-it Fowl, la pool French, Frenchman, pa-si'-ooks Friend, sikhs, or shikhs Frog, shwáh-kuk Fry, to, mam'-ook la po-el' Frying-pan, la po-el' Full, pahtl Fundament, o'-poots G Gallop, to, kwa-lal'-kwa-lal' Gather, to, ho'-ku-melh Get, to, is'-kum Get out, mahsh Get up, get-up', -or ket-op' Ghost, skoo'-kum Gift, cul'-tus pot'-latch Give, to, pot'-latch Glad, kwann Go, to, klat'-a-wa God, ságh-a-lie ty-ee' Gold, pil chik'-a-min Good, klose, or kloshe Good-bye, kla-how'-ya Goods, ik'-tah Goose, whuy'-whuy; kal-ak-a-láh-ma Grandfather, chope Grandmother, chitsh Grease, la-kles'; glease Green, pe-chugh' Grey; a grey horse, le gley Grizzly bear, si-am' Ground, il'-la-hie Gun; musket, suk'-wa-lal H Hair, yak'-so Half, sit'-kum Hammer, le máh-to Hand, le máh Hand (game of), it'-lo-kum Handkerchief, hak'-at-shum Hard, kull Hare, kwit'-shad-ie Harrow, to, mam'-ook comb il'-la-hie Hat, se-áh-po; se-áh-pult Haul, haul Hazel-nuts, tuk'-wil-la He, his, yáh-ka Head, la tet Heart, tum'-tum Heaven, ságh-il-lie il'-la-hie Heavy, till Help, to, mam'-ook e-lann' Here, yuk'-wa Hermaphrodite, bur'-dash Hide, to, ip'-soot High, ságh-a-lie Hit, to, kwul'h Hoe, la pe-osh' Hog, co'-sho Hole, kla-whap' Holiday, sunday Horn, stone Horse, kiu'-a-tan House, house How, káh-ta How are you, kla-how'-ya How many, kun'-sih; kun'-juk Hundred, tuk-a-mo'-nuk Hungry, o'-lo Hurry, howh; hy-ak' I I, ni-ka If, spose In, ko'-pa Indian, si'-wash In shore, máht-wil-lie Iron, chik'-a-min It, yáh-ka J Jealous, sick tum'-tum Jump, to, so'-pe-na K Kam-ass root, la'-ka-mass Kettle, ket-ling Kick, to, chuk'-kin Kiss, to kiss, be'-be Knife, o'-pit-sah Knock, to, ko'-ko Knotty, hunl'-kih Know, to, kum'-tuks L Lame, klook te-áh-wit Lamprey eel, skwak'-wal, Language, la lang Large, hy-as' Lately, chee Laughter, hee'-hee Lazy, lazy Leap, to, so'-pe-na Leaf, tup'-so, or tip'-so Lean, to, lagh Leave, to, mahsh Leave off, to, ko-pet' Leg, te-áh-wit Leggings, mi-tass' Lend, to, a-yáh-whul Lick, to, klak'-wun Lie, to, klim-in'-a-whit Like, káh-kwa Like, to, tik-égh Little, ten'-as Long, youtl'-kut Long ago, áhn-kut-te, or áhn-kot-tie Look, to, nan'-itsh Look here! nah Look out! klose nan'-itsh Looking-glass, she-lok'-um Loose, stoh Lose the way, to, tso'-lo; tsee-pie' way-hut Louse, e'-na-poo, or in'-a-poo Love, to, tik-égh M Magic, ta-máh-no-us Make, to, mam'-ook Man, man Many, hy-iu' Marry, to, mal-i-éh Mass (Ceremony of), la messe Mast, ship stick Mat, klis'-kwiss Mattock, la pe-osh' Measure, to, tah'-nim Meat, itl'-wil-lie Medicine, la mes'-tin Mend, to, mam'-ook tip'-shin Metal, metallic, chik'-a-min Middle, the, kat'-suk, or kot'-suk Midnight, sit'-kum po'-lak-lie Milk, to-toosh' Mill, moo'-la Mind, the, tum'-tum Miss, to, tsee'-pie Mistake, to, tsee'-pie Moccasins, skin-shoes Molasses, mel-ass' Money, chik'-a-min Month, moon Moon, moon More, weght Mosquito, mel'-a-kwa Mother, mama; na'-ah Mountain, la mon'-ti Mouse, hool'-hool Mouth, la boos Much, hy-iu' Mule, le mel Musical Instrument, tin'-tin Musket, musket Mussels, to'-luks My, mine, ni'-ka N Nails, le cloo Name, nem; yah-hul Near, wake si-áh Neck, le cou Needle, keep'-wot New, chee Night, po'-lak-lie Nine, kwaist, or kweest No, not, wake Noise, la tlah None, ha'-lo Nonsense, cul'-tus wau'-wau Noon, sit-kum sun Nose, nose Notwithstanding, kégh-tchie Now, al'-ta Numerals 1, ikt 2, mokst 3, klone 4, lakit 5, kwinnum 6, taghum 7, sinnamokst 8, stotekin 9, kwaist 10, tahtlelum 11, tahtlelum pe ikt 20, mokst tahtlelum 100, ikt takarnonuk Nuts, tuk'-wil-la O Oak, kull stick Oar, la lahm; la lum Oats, la wen Off, klak Off shore, máht-lin-nie Oil, glease Old, o'-le-man Old man, o'-le-man Old woman, lam'-mi-eh One, ikt One-eyed, ikt se-áh-host Open, háh-lakl Opposite to, in'-a-ti Or, pe Order, to, mahsh tum'-tum Other, hul-o'-i-ma Otter (land), ne-mam'-ooks Our, ne-si'-ka Out doors, klágh-a-nie Ox, moos'-moos Oyster, chet'-lo, or jet'-lo; klógh-klogh P Paddle, a, is'-ick Paddle, to, mam'-ook is'-ick Paint, pent Paint, to, mam'-ook pent Paper, péh-pah Peas, le pwau People, til'-i-kum Perhaps, klo-nas' Petticoat, kal-a-kwah'-tie Piebald, le kye Pin, kwek'-wi-ens Pipe, la peep Pitch, la gome Plate, la si-et' Pleased, youtl Plough, le shal-loo' Plough, to, klugh il'-la-hie Pole, la pehsh Poor, kla-how'-yum; ha'-lo ik'-ta Pork, co'-sho Posteriors, o'-poots Potato, wap'-pa-too Pour, to, wagh Powder, po'-lal-lie Prairie wolf, tal'-a-pus Presently, al'-kie; win'-a-pie Pretty, to'ke-tie Priest, le plet Proud, youtl; kwetl'h Provided that, spose Pull, haul Q Quarter, ten'-as sit'-kum Quarter (of a dollar), kwah-ta Quick, hy-ak' Quills, te-péh R Rabbit, kwit'-shad-ie Rain, snass Rattle, shugh Rattlesnake, shugho'-pools Razor fish, o'-na Reach, ko Red, pil Relate, to, yi'-em Return, to, kel'-i-pi Ribbon, le lo'-ba Rice, lice Rifle, cal'-li-peen Ring, a, kwéo-kwéo Ripe, pi'-ah River, chuck Road, way'-hut Roan colored, san'-de-lie Roast, mam'-ook la pel-lah' Rock, stone Rope, lope Rotten, poo'-lie Round, lo'-lo Rudder, boat o'-poots Rum, lum S Sack, le sak Saddle, la sell Saddle housings, le pish'-e-mo Sail, sail Sailor, ship'-man Salmon, salmon Salt, salt Sand, po'-lal-lie Sash, la san-jel' Saw, la gwin; la scie Say, to, wau'-wau Scissors, le see'-zo Sea, salt-chuck Seal, ol'-hi-yu si'-wash co'-sho See, to, nan'-itsh Sell, to, máh-kook Seven, sin'-a-moxt Sew, to, mam'-ook tip'-shin Shake, to, to-to; hul'-lel Shame, shem Sharp, yáh-kis-ilt'h Sharpen, to, mam'-ook tsish She, her, yah-ka Sheep, le moo'-to Shell money, (the small size), coop-coop; (the large), hy-kwa Shingle, le-báh-do Shining, to-wágh Ship, ship Shirt, shut Shoes, shoes Shoot, to, mam'-ook poo Short, yútes-kut Shot, shot; ten'-as le bal Shot pouch, ka-li-tan le-sac'; tsole'-pat Shout, to, hy'-as wau'-wau Shovel, la pell Shut, to, ik-poo'-ie Sick, sick Sift, to, to-to Silk, la sway Silver, t'kope chik'-a-min Similar, káh-kwa Since, kim-ta Sing, to, shan'-tie Sister, káhp-ho, if older than the speaker; ats, if younger Sit, to, mit'-lite Six, tógh-um Skin, skin Skunk, hum o'-poots; piu'-piu; skub'-e-you Sky, koo'-sagh Slave, e-li'-te; mist'-shi-mus Sleep, moo'-sum Slowly, kláh-wa Small, ten'-as Smell, a, humm Smoke, smoke Snake, o'-luk Snow, snow; cole snass Soap, soap Soft, klim'-min Sorrel colored, a sorrel horse, le blau Sorry, sick tum'-tum Sour, kwates Spade, la pell Speak, to, wau'-wau Spill, to, wagh Spirits, lum Split, tsugh Split, to, mam'-ook tsugh Spectacles, dol'-la se-ágh-ost, or lak-it se-agh-ost Spit, to, mam'-ook toh Split, to become, cháh-ko tsugh Spoon, spoon Spotted, le kye; tzum Spurs, le see'-blo Squirrel, skwis'-kwis Stab, to, klem'-a-hun Stand, to, mit'-whit Stars, tsil'-tsil Stay, to, mit'-lite Steal, to, kap-su-al-la Steam, smoke Steamer, pi'-ah ship Stick, a, stick Stink, a, piú-piú; humm Stirrup, sit'-lay Stockings, stock'-en; kush-is' Stone, stone Stop, to, ko-pet' Store, máh-kook house Story, eh-káh-nam Straight, de-láte, or de-let'; si'-pah Strawberries, a-mo'-te Strong, skoo'-kum Sturgeon, stutch'-un Sugar, le sook; shu'-gah; shu'-kwa Summer, waum il'-la-hie Sun, sun; óte-lagh Sunday, sunday Sunset, klip sun Suppose, spose Swan, káh-loke Sweep, to, mam'-ook bloom Sweet, tsee Swim, sit'-shum T Table, la tahb Tail, o'-poots Take, to, is'-kum Take care! klose nan'-itsh Take off, or out, mam'-ook klak; mahsh Tale, or story, yi'-em; eh-káh-nam Talk, to, wau'-wau Tame, kwass Tea, tea Teach, to, mam'-ook kum'-tuks Tear, to, klugh Teeth, le táh Tell, to, wau'-wau Ten, táht-le-lum Thank you, máh-sie That, o'-koke That way, yáh-wa There, yáh-wa; ko-páh They, klas'-ka Thick (as molasses), pit'-lilh Thin (as a board), p'chih; pe-what'-tie Thing, ik'-tah This, o'-koke This way, yuk'-wa Thou, thy, thine, mi'-ka Thread, kla-píte Three, klone Throw away, mahsh Tide, see chuck Tie, to, kow Tight, kwutl Tinware, ma-láh Tip, to, lagh Tired, till To, towards, ko'-pa Tobacco, ki'-nootl; ki'-noos To-morrow, to-mol'-la Tongue, la lang Trail, way'-hut Trap, la piége Tree, stick Tree, fallen, whim stick Trot, to, téh-teh Trowsers, sa-kol'-eks True, de-láte Truth, de-láte wau'-wau Tub, ta-mo'-litsh Twine, ten-as lope; kla-píte Two, twice, mokst U Uncle, tot Under, kee'-kwil-lie Understand, to, kum'-tuks Unhappy, sick tum'-tum Untamed, le-mo'-lo Untie, to, mam'-ook stoh; mahsh kow Up, ságh-a-lie Upset, to, kel'-i-pi Us, ne-si'-ka V Venison, mow'-itsh Very, hy-as' Vessel, ship Vest, la west Vomit, to, wagh W Wagon, tsik'-tsik; chik'-chik Wander, to, tso'-lo Want, to, tik-égh Warm, waum Wash, to, mam'-ook wash Watch, a, tik'-tik Water, chuck Waterfall, tum'-water We, ne-si'-ka Weigh, to, mam'-ook till Wet, pahtl chuck Whale, eh'-ko-lie; kwáh-nice, kwad'-dis What, ik'-tah Wheat, sap'-o-lill Wheel, tsik'-tsik; chik'-chik When, kan'-sih; kun-juk Where, kah Whip, le whet White, t'kope Who, klak'-sta Whole, lo'-lo Why, káh-ta Wicked, me-sáh-chie Wide, kluk-ulh' Wild, le mo'-lo Will, the, tum'-tum Willow, ee'-na stick Win, to, to'-lo Wind, wind Winter, cole il'-la-hie Wipe, to, klak'-wun Wire, chik'-a-min lope Wish, to, tik-égh With, ko'-pa Without, ha'-lo Wolf, le-loo' Woman, klootsh'-man Woman (old), lam'-mi-eh Wood, wooden, stick Work, to, mam'-ook Worn out, o'-le-man Worthless, cul'-tus Wound, to, klem'-a-hun Write, to, mam'-ook péh-pah; mam'-ook tzum Writing, tzum Y Year, ikt cole Yellow, kaw'-ka-wak Yes, áh-ha; e-éh Yes indeed, na-wit'-ka Yesterday, táhl-kie; táhl-kie sun You, your, yours, me-si'-ka Young, ten'-as