nitchie

[anishinābe Indian, friend]

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Spelling variants:
neche, nechee, nee-che, neejee, etc.

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

1n. — Obs.

in Indian parlance, especially of another Indian, a friend.

1768-82

[Neejee . . . Friend]

1837

Thus, one man addressing another says "nichi" or "neejee," my friend.

1852

While she called Louis, "Nee-thee," or friend. . . .

1857

Our Indian guide . . . to whom we had given the name Nichiwa, or friend.

2n.

an Indian (now often derogatory).

1850

I sallied forth, and found the Nidges loading the canoes, drest in their best.

1903

A neche was leisurely cleaning up round Lablache's store. . . .

1930

"Have to see if I can dig up a Nitchie an' trade whitefish for tobacco or something," he concluded.

1960

They leave their homes on starving pay to take the nitchies' lives.

3n.

a small Indian pony.

1915

"Nitchie" is an alternate name for Indian and is also applied to the small native ponies.