DCHP-1 Online

scalper

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

  See also: scalping-knife  

  • 1800  (1897)  I . . . gave out to the Indians . . . an assortment of small articles gratis, such as one scalper, two folders. . . .
  • 1824  (1955)  Saw one of our Files stamped M & Co & one of the blades of our Scalpers L imprinted.

• 2 n. Slang, Obs. an Indian.

  • 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.