DCHP-3

scalper

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

1n. — Hist.

a sharp knife used by Indian warriors to scalp their defeated enemies, an important item of trading goods in the fur country.

Quotations

1800
I . . . gave out to the Indians . . . an assortment of small articles gratis, such as one scalper, two folders. . . .
1824
Saw one of our Files stamped M & Co & one of the blades of our Scalpers L imprinted.
2n. — Slang, Obs.

an Indian.

Quotations

1845
. . . and having shy'd his bolster at me, and desired the Indian to leave the room, I followed the scalper's example, fearing some more substantial article of bed-room furniture than the ticking and feathers might follow the bolster.