DCHP-1 Online

medicine in Indian parlance

• 1 n. something believed to have power over the forces of nature; magic or supernatural powers believed to have the means of healing or harming.

  See also: strong medicine  

  • 1763  (1901)  In his hand, he had his shishiquoi, or rattle, with which he beat time to his medicine song.
  • 1792  (1934)  We informed them that we had a better Medicine and are not fearfull of them as they must get every thing from our Country.
  • 1844  (1955)  The Indians generally are losing most of their old superstitions without acquiring anything better. "Medicine" is hardly heard of.
  • 1952  The tribal medicine men were helpless because small pox was a white man's importation and they had no myth to account for it, therefore no "medicine."
  • 1966  Even now you can't talk to a man about his medicine. If a man talks about his medicine, his medicine gets weak

• 2 n. an object or practice believed to endow its owner with power to withstand illness or defeat; a fetish or talisman.

  See also: medicine bag  

  • 1847  Like all the other Indians, they put more faith in their dreams, omens, and jugglers, in the power of imaginary deities of their own creation, and of their consecrated relics, to which the Canadians have given the singular appellation of medicine.
  • 1880  A ska-ga has his hair long and tangled, as, in obedience to custom, it is neither allowed to be cut or comb passed through it. This constitutes a part of his "medicine."
  • 1957  . . . every [Indian] hunter carried a medicine bag with as wide an assortment of "medicines" as any fly-fisherman ever dreamed of

• 3a n. make medicine, enter upon certain rituals intended to gain the help of the gods in warding off evil or sickness, in ensuring a good hunt or successful war, in bringing harm to enemies, etc.

  • 1802  (1897)  An Indian made medicine to ask his Manitou whether a certain sick person would recover.
  • 1896  They thought we were making "medicine" against them, but were won over by Heming drawing the moose and caribou, while they watched the animals they knew so well develop under his pencil.
  • 1923  The medicine man makes medicines (i.e., symbols, or inimical thoughts) against a man, and promptly that unlucky individual falls ill.

• 3b n. Figurative use. See quotes.

  • 1956  When I dropped around to make medicine with him, the girl in the office told me he had left the Company.
  • 1957  "If he [an angry bull] makes medicine, so will I !" retorted the postie.

• 4 n. Obs. throw medicine, cast a spell over, usually an evil spell, as against enemies in war; seek to bring harm (to).

  • 1789  (1801)  This man had conceived an idea, that the people with whom he had been at war, had thrown medicine at him, which had caused his present complaint, and that he despaired of recovery.
  • 1820,  (1938)  "They have lived on Babiche and Leather for several days, and imagine that our Opponents have 'thrown bad Medicine on them'."

• 5 n. the secretion from the scent glands of the beaver used as a lure or as an ingredient in a lure.

  See also: beaver medicine  

  • 1861  The gin covered inside the jaws, with a well fitting "pallet" of birch bark, is placed indifferently either under or upon the snow, and on the pallet a piece of hair skin, well rubbed with the "medicine" is tied.