Chehalis

[ shuh-hey-lis ]

noun

, plural Che·ha·lis·es, (especially collectively) Che·ha·lis

1. a river flowing from southwestern Washington State through western Washington State to the Pacific Ocean. 125 miles (201 km) long.
2. a member of an Indigenous people in western Washington State traditionally living in and around the basin of the Chehalis River.
3. either of the two Salishan languages of the Chehalis.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Chehalis or their languages.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chehalis¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from Lower Chehalis (a member of the Coast Salish branch of Salishan languages) Tsalis “sandy place” or Chikelis (also c̓x̣íľəs ) “shifting sands,” the name of a village in Grays Harbor County, Washington State

Example Sentences

Through a series of line plunges and end runs, Chehalis pushed them back, back, back to their own three yard line.

From Project Gutenberg

Johnny, who journeyed with the team to Chehalis, where the game was to be played, had never seen anything like it.

From Project Gutenberg

Arriving at the lake, we pulled again for Chehalis in a cold, disagreeable rain.

From Project Gutenberg

In Chehalis county alone are 325 miles of gravel roads, every part of which passes near interesting scenes.

From Project Gutenberg

A rich dairy and farm country surrounds them, formed by the Chehalis, the Newaukum and Skookumchuck rivers.

From Project Gutenberg