‖ tyee, tyhee
(ˈtaɪiː)
[Chinook jargon.]
1. A chief; a person of distinction. N. Amer. slang.
| 1792 in E. Healey Hist. Alert Bay (1958) 15 The Ty-ee, or chief, of the village paid us an early visit. 1866 J. K. Lord Naturalist in Brit. Columbia I. 161, I was presented to the chiefs as a Hyas tyee (great chief), one of ‘King George's’ men. 1877 Puget Sound (Washington) Argus 23 Nov., With the coming of the military among us came a big church ‘tyhee’, who told us that the soldiers were come to protect us. 1880 D. M. Gordon Mountain & Prairie 117 We were surprised to find, at the head of Stewart Lake, a well-stocked farm, owned and worked by the Indian ‘tyhee’. 1909 in Cent. Dict. Supp. 1911 Chambers' Jrnl. July 439 Thither when a tyhee [i.e. a wealthy Chinaman] dies, wends a noisy procession. 1927 [see high-muck-a-muck]. 1963 Brit. Columbia Digest Oct. 54/2 A British officer..may have told the Chief that he was now the great Tyee of the country. The Indian took the words literally and elevated himself to top position. 1966 H. Marriott Cariboo Cowboy v. 54 The agricultural tyees in both Canada and the United States have taken a wise view. |
2. The king-salmon or quinnat (Oncorhynchus chouicha or quinnat). Also attrib.
| 1902 Jordan & Evermann Amer. Food & Game Fishes 151 Chinook Salmon... Other names by which this fish is known are quinnat salmon,..tyee, tchaviche, and tschawytscha. 1903 Blackw. Mag. Mar. 373/1 The quinnat, chinook, or ty-hee (chief) commonly known as the Spring Salmon. 1909 Morn. Leader 6 Feb. 4/4 He caught four and Mr. Bonnell two ‘Tyee’ salmon;..only three other ‘Tyees’ were taken. |