Chinook

See also: chinook

English

Etymology

From Lower Chehalis c̓inúk (the name of a Chinook village on the Columbia river).

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /t͡ʃɪˈnʊk/
• Rhymes: -ʊk

Proper noun

Chinook

1. A Native American language of the Penutian family of Oregon and Washington.
2. Chinook Jargon, a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest composed primarily of words from Chinook proper, English, and French, with some borrowings from other languages.
   • 1941, Emily Carr, chapter 1, in Klee Wyck‎^[1]:

     The Missionary's address rolled on in choppy Chinook, undertoned by a gentle voice from the back of the room which told Tanook in pure Indian words what he was to do.

3. A city, the county seat of Blaine County, Montana, United States.

Noun

Chinook (plural Chinooks or Chinook)

1. A member of a Native American people whose traditional tribal grounds were along the lower and middle Columbia River.

   The Chinook sent a hunting party to the south.

2. Alternative letter-case form of chinook

Further reading

• Ethnologue entry for Chinook, chh ⁠