Cowlitz

American  

[kou-lits] / ˈkaʊ lɪts /

noun

plural

Cowlitzes,

plural

Cowlitz

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.

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Etymology

Origin of Cowlitz

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

Cowlitz would go on to join the community center’s board, with hopes to reignite the young Indigenous creative scene.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024

Until Cowlitz found the Chapter House, he could only dream of these spaces from the past.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024

With rain continuing Tuesday, the weather service expects to issue flood warnings for rivers flowing off the South Central Cascades, including the Cowlitz, Nisqually, Newaukum and portions of the Chehalis.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2023

Fish, a member of the Cowlitz Tribe, descendant of Muckleshoot heritage, is an advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2023

The Upper Cowlitz people native to the land called the volcano “Lawillayt-łá: one who smokes,” while the Puyallup people named it “Loowit” or “Lady of Fire.”

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone