DCHP-3

medicine-man

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

1an.

an Indian magician or shaman who practises healing by means of charms and the exorcism of evil spirits or by practical remedies such as administering herbs and sweat baths.

Quotations

1801
An Indian who pretended to be a medicine man was employed by Maymiutch to cure his sick brother.
1860
The "medicine-men" had all been posed by the disease: and the "powers of the air" had been invoked to no purpose.
1958
Now there is a great difference between a Medicine Man and a Witch Doctor--the Medicine Man aims to heal, the Witch Doctor aims to kill, now we have this right.
1bn.

anyone who prescribes or administers remedies for illness, etc.

Quotations

1893
None of those at his post knew anything about applying remedies, and Mr. M'Kenzie's reputation as a "medicine man" being founded upon many successful cures by the aid of a well-furnished medicine-chest, his rival . . . had sent over for him. . . .
1966
One receives the impression that his reputation as a medicine man had preceded him over the mountains, for . . . the sick were brought forth for his skill.
2n.

among Eskimos, an angakok.

See: angakok

Quotations

1896
The angakok or medicine man, is a man of influence.
1940
He was one of the last practising Eskimo medicine-men, and I could not suppress a sneaking liking for him.
1945
Here the medicine man, the angakok, would stand when he was repeating incantations to bring good weather, to ensure a catch of seals, to speed the recovery of a sick woman.
3n.

an itinerant quack doctor, especially one who sells nostrums and panaceas to the accompaniment of a crowd-gathering show.

Quotations

1901
There was one person in the crowd surrounding the medicine-man's wagon who had none of that superstitious thrill. . . .
1965
[Caption] Here comes the medicine man, plying his potions in Saskatchewan, unrestricted by any food and drug regulations. He can and probably does advertise sure cures for everything from cancer to chilblains--with a free show thrown in.