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medicine bag

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a bag or pouch, often decorated with beadwork, used by the Indians to carry various objects believed to have magical powers in protecting the bearer from harm.

See: medicine(def. 2),medicine box,medicine bundle,medicine pouch,powahgen(def. 2)

Quotations

1797

[I] made him consent to go for his Medecine Bag that was at the English [post] and not return any more to them. . . .

1804

[They] pretend, by virtue of their medicine bags, to baffle all the secret machinations of their most inveterate enemies, and even to kill them at pleasure without being detected.

1956

Each carried across one arm a medicine bag made of otter or some other fine skin and embellished with a wonder fully designed beaded piece of pure white leather, like a stole.