DCHP-3

hyas tyee

[< Chinook Jargon hyas big and tyee chief, king]
Pacific Coast
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a great or mighty chief; an important person.

Quotations

1860
Seven hyas tyhees, of the Hyder tribe of Northern Indians, accompanied by their families, waited upon Governor Douglas at the Government House, on Saturday last.
1866
Having handed my letters of introduction . . . to the chief trader, I was presented to the chiefs as a Hyas tyee (great chief), one of "King George's" men.
1937
. . . he landed on a bar . . . at a place he called Shakesville, after old Shakes, the hyas tyee of the Stikines.
1956
Tom Hastie told me his employer, Col. Ebey, was a hyass tyee (Mighty Chief).