DCHP-2

tyee [< Chinook Jargon "chief, boss, champion"; cf. Nootka tāyī older brother] Esp. B.C. DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

• 1 n.

  the chief of an Indian tribe or band.

  See also: medicine tyhee  

  • 1792  (1958)  The Ty-ee, or chief, of the village paid us an early visit. . . .
  • 1816  (1896)  The boy was considered as a Tyee, or chief, being the only son of Tootoosch, one of their principal chiefs. . . .
  • 1880  We were surprised to find, at the head of Stewart Lake, a well-stocked farm, owned and worked by the Indian "tyhee."
  • 1963  A British officer . . . may have told the Chief that he was now the great Tyee of the country. The Indian took the words literally and elevated himself to top position

• 2 n.

  any important person; boss.

  • 1866  Having handed my letters of introduction from his Excellency the Governor to the chief trader, I was presented to the chiefs as a Hyas tyee (great chief), one of "King George's" men.
  • 1902  You find they [Chinese immigrants] understand the financial market as well as anybody, and that numbers of the lower orders are absolutely subject to their "tyee" who lords it over them.
  • 1927  J. B. Smith is the high-muck-a-muck, the tyee of the mining business of British Columbia. . . .
  • 1956  (1957)  "Tiye," David said . . . indicating himself, telling the old man that he, David, was a chief, a master.

• 3 n.

  a Chinook salmon, especially one over a specified weight. See 1958 quote.

  See also: tyee chinook  tyee salmon  

  • 1912  Mac was a good boatman, and the way he followed the tyee in the eight-knot current did him credit.
  • 1958  Technically, a tyee, or champion, is a spring salmon, but in Campbell River's sport fishing circles the title applies to a salmon of thirty pounds or over. At Saanich and other Provincial fishing grounds, a salmon of twenty pounds or more is accepted as a tyee.
  • 1966  He is also only 10 minutes from the Campbell River tyee grounds, but our story today is about steelheading.