Tyee
/ˈtaɪi/noun
A chief, leader, or person of high rank, especially in the Pacific Northwest.
Did you know?Tyee entered English through Chinook Jargon, a historic trade language used among Indigenous peoples, settlers, and traders in the Pacific Northwest.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-contact period
Nuu-chah-nulth
ta̓yi
“Chief, leader, or person of authority”
18th–19th Century
Chinook Jargon
tyee
“Chief, boss, or leading person”
19th Century
Pacific Northwest English
tyee
“A chief or prominent leader”
Late 19th Century
English
tyee
“A leader, notable person, or large and powerful example of something”
Modern English
English
tyee
“A chief, leader, or person of high rank, chiefly in regional Pacific Northwest usage”