DCHP-1 Online

ranch ((1)) ((n.)) 1 † [< Am.E < Am.Sp. rancho small farm < Sp. "camp"] The word ranch has been used in Western Canada in various ways, and it is difficult, indeed impossible, to determine the specific senses of many occurrences. In general, ranch refers to rangeland, with or without buildings; the owners of such land; the living-quarters on such land; and, at times, any farm at all.

• 1a n. West, Esp. B.C. a farm or homestead.

  • 1865  . . . on the ranches at Williams Lake a great deal of land has been laid down with the same crop.
  • 1872  (1873)  Between this point and Kamloops there are now ten or eleven farms or "ranches," as they are termed on the Pacific slope.
  • 1966  Irvin Johnston . . . still ran the ranch in there and his mother stayed with him. I found the ranch all right, but they weren't there.

• 1b n. West the land and buildings of an extensive holding devoted primarily to the raising of livestock.

  See also: ranch ((1)) ((v.)) (def. 1)  

  • 1869  Flynn & Co., in the creek below Boyd & Heath's Ranch, are ground sluicing. . . .
  • 1884  I little doubt but that other able and unselfish managers of cattle ranches are of the same opinion.
  • 1923  [He] landed in at my husband's ranch one day . . . and asked for work.
  • 1966  Mr. Jim Clarke who works at the Twin Ranches has returned to New Westminster to visit with his parents before potato picking time.

• 1c n. West the living quarters on a homestead or cattle ranch. Also spelled (older) ranche.

  See also: ranch-house ((1)) (def.1)  

  • 1888  (1890)  The ranche was a nice log-house, the inside being match-boarded with the red Douglas pine, which gave an air of comfort to the nicely-arranged rooms.
  • 1889  The Word was spoken in little huts . . . in the crowded stopping-place by the way, in ranches to the assembled cowboys, in shacks where lonely bachelors lived.
  • 1906  It was some time later when Nellie Townshead stood by a window of her father's ranch. Jean-clad stock breeders and axemen hung about the clearing. . . .

• 1d n. West the owners of lessees of a cattle ranch.

  • 1958  All ranches own some land, such as native-hay land . . . choice range . . . and sites suitable for buildings.

• 2a n. an establishment where certain fur-bearing animals, such as mink and fox, are bred and raised for their pelts, usually in pens or protected runs.

  See also: fur farm (def. 1)  ranch ((1)) ((v.)) (def. 3)  

  • 1928  (1953)  Any person who has the courage of his convictions should not hesitate to pay $200.00 or more per pair for good ranch bred stock from a reliable ranch.
  • 1953  There are always a few sick mink, even on the best of ranches.

• 2b n. a large tract in the fur country where fur-bearing animals live in their natural habitat, being trapped in a controlled way under sanctuary conditions.

  See also: fur preserve (def. 2)  

  • 1938  A good year for growth of aquatic and marsh vegetation is expected. This has a very important bearing on the success of the ranch.

• 2c n. B.C. a fruit farm; a commercial orchard.

  See also: fruit ranch   

  • In this sense, ranch is now applied only to commercial orchards covering many acres.

  • 1953  The Okanagan with its pleasant little towns and fruit ranches--everything is a ranch in B.C. . . . constitutes a good big stretch of settled countryside.
  • 1966  In a few years young orchards extended along the east bench from Penticton to Naramata and south from Ellis Creek along the shores of Skaha Lake. . . . For nearly three decades the ranch was the only refuge between Okanagan Mission and Osoyoos or Keremeos.

• 3 n. a style of one-storey house characterized by long, low spaciousness.

  See also: ranch-house ((1)) (def. 2)  

  • 1965  [Advert.] _{LUXURY RANCH} . . . only $39,900 for this fabulous one-floor bungalow.
  • 1966  [Advert.] Executive prestige ranch . . . Lavishly landscaped.