DCHP-1 Online

warpath † Hist.

• 1 n. a route followed by Indian war parties.

  See also: war-road  

  • 1858  (1860)  The following are celebrated "war-paths," where hunting is generally disallowed. . . .

• 2a n. on the warpath. of Indians, on an expedition of war.

  • 1861  A number of the Sioux have started on the war-path, to avenge the recent slaughter of their brethren at St. Joseph.
  • 1953  In all, about 1,000 Indians and Métis were on the warpath, although many additional thousands might have been drawn into the quarrel, which is what terrified people in isolated prairie homesteads.

• 2b n. on the warpath. Figurative uses.

  • 1954  The famous mosquitoes of South Nahanni were starting to get on the warpath so I went out to fix my bed and stake out my mosquito net.
  • 1955  I knew that Letcher and Joe were more or less on a periodic grievance match against each other, but it had never occurred to me that the boys would pick this time to go on the warpath.

• 3 n. take the warpath, Figurative use.

  • 1923  Evidently she [a ship] lost no time in taking the war-path.