Cowlitz

[ kou-lits ]

noun

, plural Cow·litz·es, (especially collectively) Cow·litz

1. a river in southwestern Washington State, flowing west and south to the Columbia River. 130 miles (209 km) long.
2. a county in southwestern Washington State. 1,166 sq. mi. (3,021 sq. km).
3. a member of either of two tribes of Indigenous people of western Washington State traditionally living around the Cowlitz River, the lower tribe speaking a Salishan language and the upper tribe gradually adopting a Sahaptin language through intermarriage with Sahaptin people.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cowlitz¹

First recorded in 1830–40; a collective geographical term applied by Europeans to several ethnically and linguistic different groups of Indigenous peoples of the Cowlitz River Basin in western Washington State

Example Sentences

The black basaltic lava east of Cowlitz Glacier shows the latter structure in a striking manner.

From Project Gutenberg

This Willamette-Cowlitz depression is surrounded by densely forested hills and the snow-capped summits of ancient volcanoes.

From Project Gutenberg

It was at once evident that the lake was upon a summit, or divide, between the waters of the Nisqually and Cowlitz rivers.

From Project Gutenberg

The country was much obscured with smoke from heavy fires which had been raging on the Cowlitz the last two days.

From Project Gutenberg

The main Cowlitz glacier issues from the southeast side, just to the right of our ridge of ascent.

From Project Gutenberg