DCHP-3

hyiu

< Chinook Jargon
DCHP-2 (May 2016)

Spelling variants:
highu, hiyou, hiyu,

1adj. — obsolete, British Columbia

great, many.

Type: 1. Origin — Hyiu is the result of lexical transfer from Chinook Jargon, a pidgin language that arose in the 19th century and was spoken well into the 20th century in BC and the Pacific Northwest to facilitate communication between trade communities. It is based on Lower Chinook, Nootka, French and English, with some influence from other Aboriginal languages (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference, s.v. "Chinook Wawa"). Hyiu in particular comes from Nootka and is often used in conjunction with the term muckamuck, meaning 'food'. Because of the phonetic resemblance of hyiu to "high", the phrase "high muckamuck" eventually began to denote a person of high standing, literally 'a person who has a lot of food' (see high muckamuck).

Quotations

1859
I think there is hiyou gold up here [...].
1860
The Indian ought to be kept in prison when convicted, as the other Indians think he has a good time and hiyu muck-a­-muck.
1875
Mr P. is of opinion that propelling a pair of snow-shoes, without paddles, in two feet of water and slush ice, with 220 lbs. on board, is rather dangerous, and a poor way of utilizing Mackenzie's magnificent water-stretches. We would advise the public not to utilize those water stretches in that way this spring, as there is hiyou chuck and tenas skookum ice for safety.
1899
The Kickapoo entertainment, Saturday night was a hiyu success. Mr. Lavena's juggling feats were first class.
1966
"Gee!" he added. "I bet they make hiyu potlatch tonight!"
1971
They go north into that country to work. To work all the time, hard. Horses and wagons, women and children, and dogs, hiyu dogs, all going up by Barkerville.
2001
It is all here, the lousy local roads, getting lost in the bush, hunting, logging and the First Nations people. Even old Chinook words like, hiyu (many), hiyas (big), skookum (big), mesachie (wicked), and cultus (useless).
2adv. — obsolete, British Columbia

very, much.

Type: 1. Origin — See meaning 1.
This adverb is often used in conjunction with skookum, another word from Chinook Jargon meaning 'powerful' or 'strong' (see hyiu-skookum).

Quotations

1924
"They puzzle me for they have no complaint," she answered. "Either conditions have changed or that imposter was sadly misled in his observations. Actually, the Indians seem to look upon Bonnemort and Kluger as benefactors. 'Hiyu skookum Boston men,' they call the rascals."
1927
"Klahowya, little girl." "Me and him has been tillikums for a hyiu long time."
1990
Leading them to a small creek, evidently an affluent of the Tulameen River, the old Indian declared the area infested with evil spirits and he refused to go further. But he did give directions. The white men were to follow the creek up until they came to a place where the water raised "hiyu."