hoochinoo

American  

[hoo-chuh-noo, hoo-chuh-noo] / ˈhu tʃəˌnu, ˌhu tʃəˈnu /

Or hootchinoo

noun

plural

hoochinoos

1. a type of distilled liquor made by Alaskan Indians.

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Etymology

Origin of hoochinoo

1875–80, originally the name of a Tlingit village on Admiralty Island, Alaska, reputed to be a source of illicit liquor; alteration of Tlingit xucnu·wú literally, brown bear's fort ( xú·c brown bear + nu·w fortified place)

Example Sentences

Annahootz and Katlean both figured boldly in the history of the town, and Sitka Jack was noted for his great potlatch held in 1877, when he gave a housewarming at which he presented to his visitors over 500 blankets, not to mention the hoochinoo and whiskey which flowed liberally for all.

From Project Gutenberg

The dealers who traded molasses to the Indians, from which the villainous liquor called “hoochinoo” or “Hooch,” was distilled, objected to the ordinances restricting the trade.

From Project Gutenberg