chinook

Noun
US[shih-nook]/ʃɪˈnʊk/2 syllablesalso [chin-ook] /ˌtʃɪˈnʊk/
Synonyms: ChinookanChinookan languageChinook languagechinook windsnow eaterchinook salmonking salmonquinnat salmonOncorhynchus tshawytscha

Open English WordNet

Noun (5)

  1. a member of an important North American Indian people who controlled the mouth of the Columbia river; they were organized into settlements rather than tribesType of Penutian
  2. a Penutian language spoken by the ChinookSynonyms: ChinookanChinookan languageChinook languageType of Penutian
  3. a warm dry wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the RockiesSynonyms: chinook windsnow eaterType of wind, air current
  4. pink or white flesh of large Pacific salmonSynonyms: chinook salmonking salmonType of salmonPart of chinook salmon, king salmon
  5. large Pacific salmon valued as food; adults die after spawningSynonyms: chinook salmonking salmonquinnat salmonOncorhynchus tshawytschaType of salmonParts chinook salmon, king salmonMember of Oncorhynchus, genus Oncorhynchus
Word of the day · Oct 14About this word
arcaneadjective

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Chi·nook′ noun

1. Ethnol. One of a tribe of North American Indians now living in the state of Washington, noted for the custom of flattening their skulls. Chinooks also called Flathead Indians.

2. A warm westerly wind from the country of the Chinooks, sometimes experienced on the slope of the Rocky Mountains, in Montana and the adjacent territory.

3. A jargon of words from various languages (the largest proportion of which is from that of the Chinooks) generally understood by all the Indian tribes of the northwestern territories of the United States.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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