tyee
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of tyee
An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; from Chinook Jargon: literally, “chief, boss,” from Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) ta·yi· “elder brother, senior”); as a name for the fish perhaps analogous with king salmon
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The proudest moment of my fishing career came when I caught my first and only tyee.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2018
A Chinook that weighs more than 30 pounds is called a tyee.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2018
Very shortly, the magistrate pounded his gavel; His verdict was clearly a stunner: “When the gentlemen differ in manner of travel, The tyee must go to the runner.”
From Washington Post ● Jul. 21, 2016
The tyee of the crowd introduced himself as Lord Jim.
From Blazing The Way True Stories, Songs and Sketches of Puget Sound by Emily Inez Denny
Saghalie tyee, the Deity; tyee salmon, the spring salmon.
From Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon, or, Trade Language of Oregon by George Gibbs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
