DCHP-1 Online
nitchie neche, nechee, nee-che, neejee, etc. [
1 n. Obs. in Indian parlance, especially of another Indian, a friend.
- 1768-82 (1904) [Neejee . . . Friend]
- 1837 (1923) Thus, one man addressing another says "nichi" or "neejee," my friend.
- 1852 (1881) While she called Louis, "Nee-thee," or friend. . . .
- 1857 (1863) Our Indian guide . . . to whom we had given the name Nichiwa, or friend.
2 n. an Indian (now often derogatory).
- 1850 I sallied forth, and found the Nidges loading the canoes, drest in their best.
- 1903 (1913) 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.
3 n. a small Indian pony.
See also: cayuse ((n.))
- 1915 "Nitchie" is an alternate name for Indian and is also applied to the small native ponies.
- 1768-82 (1904) [Neejee . . . Friend]