Skookum
Encyclopedia
Skookum is a Chinook jargon
word that has come into general use in the Pacific Northwest
region of North America
.
The word skookum has three meanings:
Being called skookum may also mean that someone can be counted on as reliable and hard-working, or is big and strong. In a perhaps slightly less positive vein, skookum house means jail or prison, cf. the English euphemism "the big house" but here meaning "strong house". Skookum tumtum, lit. "strong heart", is generally translated as "brave" or possibly "good-hearted". In the Chinook language, skookum is a verb auxiliary, used similar to "can" or "to be able". Another compound, though fallen out of use in modern BC English, is skookum lacasset, or strongbox.
A related word skookumchuck
means turbulent water or rapids in a stream or river, i.e. "strong water" ("chuck" is Chinook Jargon for "water" or "stream" or "lake"). There are three placenames in British Columbia
using this word, and one in Washington. Of the British Columbia skookumchuck
s one is a famous saltwater rapid at the mouth of Sechelt Inlet
, the others at rapids on the Lillooet
and Columbia River
s, and also Skookumchuck Rapids Provincial Park on the Shuswap River
, just downstream from Mabel Lake
in the Monashees region
. The Skookumchuck River
in Washington is a robust tributary of the Chehalis River
. While the rapid at the mouth of Sechelt Inlet is the Skookumchuck on the BC
coast, the term is used in a general sense for other patches of rough water, typically tidal-exchange rapids at the mouths of other inlets or bays, which are a regular feature of the Inside Passage
.
Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
word that has come into general use in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
region of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
The word skookum has three meanings:
- a word in regional English that has a variety of positive connotations;
- a monster; similar to the sasquatch.
- a souvenir doll once common in the United States in tourist areas.
Principal meaning
It has a range of positive meanings. The word can mean 'good,' 'strong,' 'best,' 'powerful,' 'ultimate,' or 'brave.' Something can be skookum meaning 'really good' or 'right on! 'excellent!', or it can be skookum meaning 'tough' or 'durable'. A skookum burger is either a big or a really tasty hamburger, or both, but when your Mom's food is skookum, it's delicious but also hearty. When you are skookum, you've got a purpose and you're on solid ground, in good health/spirits etc. When used in reference to another person, e.g. "he's skookum", it's used in respect with connotations of trustworthiness, reliability and honesty as well as (possibly but not necessarily) strength and size.Being called skookum may also mean that someone can be counted on as reliable and hard-working, or is big and strong. In a perhaps slightly less positive vein, skookum house means jail or prison, cf. the English euphemism "the big house" but here meaning "strong house". Skookum tumtum, lit. "strong heart", is generally translated as "brave" or possibly "good-hearted". In the Chinook language, skookum is a verb auxiliary, used similar to "can" or "to be able". Another compound, though fallen out of use in modern BC English, is skookum lacasset, or strongbox.
A related word skookumchuck
Skookumchuck
Skookumchuck is a word in the Chinook Jargon that is in common use in British Columbia English and occurs in Pacific Northwest English. Skookum means "strong" or "powerful", and "chuck" means water, so skookumchuck means "rapids" or "whitewater"...
means turbulent water or rapids in a stream or river, i.e. "strong water" ("chuck" is Chinook Jargon for "water" or "stream" or "lake"). There are three placenames in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
using this word, and one in Washington. Of the British Columbia skookumchuck
Skookumchuck
Skookumchuck is a word in the Chinook Jargon that is in common use in British Columbia English and occurs in Pacific Northwest English. Skookum means "strong" or "powerful", and "chuck" means water, so skookumchuck means "rapids" or "whitewater"...
s one is a famous saltwater rapid at the mouth of Sechelt Inlet
Sechelt Inlet
Sechelt Inlet is one of the principal inlets of the British Columbia Coast and the third of such inlets north from the 49th parallel north, the first of which is Burrard Inlet, Vancouver's harbour. The inlet is significant in that it almost makes an island of what is instead the Sechelt Peninsula,...
, the others at rapids on the Lillooet
Lillooet River
The Lillooet River is a major river of the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia. It begins at Silt Lake, on the southern edge of the Lillooet Crown Icecap about 80 kilometres northwest of Pemberton and about 85 kilometres northwest of Whistler...
and Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
s, and also Skookumchuck Rapids Provincial Park on the Shuswap River
Shuswap River
The basin of the Shuswap River lies northeast of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. It is the upper part of the drainage better known to British Columbians as belonging to Shuswap Lake and the South Thompson River...
, just downstream from Mabel Lake
Mabel Lake
Mabel Lake is a lake located in southern Interior British Columbia, Canada, that is fed by and drained by the Shuswap River. It is located southeast of Shuswap Lake, northeast of Okanagan Lake, and west of the Monashee Mountains, and is popular for camping and fishing.The lake is oriented roughly...
in the Monashees region
Monashee Mountains
The Monashee Mountains are a mountain range mostly in British Columbia, Canada, extending into the U.S. state of Washington. They stretch from north to south and from east to west. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains...
. The Skookumchuck River
Skookumchuck River
The Skookumchuck River is a long river located in southwest Washington, USA. It is a tributary of the Chehalis River and thence to the Pacific Ocean. The Skookumchuck Dam was built in 1970, creating the Skookumchuck Reservoir. The dam provides water supply for the 1400-megawatt Centralia Steam...
in Washington is a robust tributary of the Chehalis River
Chehalis River
The Chehalis River may refer to:*Chehalis River , in the United States*Chehalis River , in Canada...
. While the rapid at the mouth of Sechelt Inlet is the Skookumchuck on the BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
coast, the term is used in a general sense for other patches of rough water, typically tidal-exchange rapids at the mouths of other inlets or bays, which are a regular feature of the Inside Passage
Inside Passage
The Inside Passage is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific coast of North America. The route extends from southeastern Alaska, in the United States, through western British Columbia, in Canada, to northwestern Washington...
.
Other uses
- In another usage, a skookum is a variety of mountain giantGiant (mythology)The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...
or monsterMonsterA monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
, similar to the Sasquatch or BigfootBigfootBigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
. In the surviving Chinuk-WawaChinook JargonChinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
spoken in Grand Ronde, OregonGrand Ronde, OregonGrand Ronde is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States. Originally named "Grand Ronde Agency", the name of this city is a variation of the French Grande Ronde or "fine large valley", a description given to the area by the employees of the...
, this variant is pronounced differently - skoo-KOOM, but when used in English with this meaning it is pronounced the same way as the "big and strong" meaning. A derivative usage of the skookum-as-monster context was the application of the name to a souvenir doll, simply called "a skookum", once common in tourist areas such as gift shops. - Skookum, either alone or in the combination skookumchuckSkookumchuckSkookumchuck is a word in the Chinook Jargon that is in common use in British Columbia English and occurs in Pacific Northwest English. Skookum means "strong" or "powerful", and "chuck" means water, so skookumchuck means "rapids" or "whitewater"...
, occurs in dozens of placenames throughout the Pacific NorthwestPacific NorthwestThe Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
region and beyond. A short form used with personal names, "Skook", is found on the map of British Columbia at Mount Skook Davidson near the confluence of the KechikaKechika RiverThe Kechika River also historically known as Black's River, is a tributary of the Liard River, located in northern British Columbia, Canada. The river rises at the Sifton Pass and flows northwest and then east 230 kilometres to join with the Liard River near Fireside, British Columbia...
and Gataga RiverGataga RiverThe Gataga River is a river in the Northern Rockies of British Columbia, Canada. It is a tributary of the Kechika River, which is a tributary of the Liard.-References:...
s in northern British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Mount Skook Jim, near the head of the Stein RiverStein RiverThe Stein River is a tributary of the Fraser River in the Canadian province of British Columbia.The name is derived from the Nlaka'pamux word Stagyn, meaning "hidden place", referring to the fact that the size and extent of the Stein River valley is not very noticeable from the river's confluence...
in the northern Lillooet RangesLillooet RangesThe Lillooet Ranges are the southeasternmost subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. They are located between the drainage of the Lillooet River and Harrison Lake on the west and the canyon of the Fraser River on the east, and by the lowland coastal valley of...
between PembertonPemberton, British ColumbiaPemberton is a village north of Whistler in the Pemberton Valley of British Columbia in Canada, with a population of 2,192. Until the 1960s the village could be accessed only by train but that changed when Highway 99 was built through Whistler and Pemberton.-Climate:The climate of Pemberton is...
and LyttonLytton, British ColumbiaLytton in British Columbia, Canada, sits at the confluence of the Thompson River and Fraser River on the east side of the Fraser. The location has been inhabited by the Nlaka'pamux people for over 10,000 years, and is one of the earliest locations settled by non-natives in the Southern Interior of...
. Local lore in any area of British Columbia may have a Skookum Charlie or a Skookum Brown - the most famous of such nicknames was that of Skookum Jim, one of the co-discoverers of the KlondikeKlondike, YukonThe Klondike is a region of the Yukon in northwest Canada, east of the Alaska border. It lies around the Klondike River, a small river that enters the Yukon from the east at Dawson....
goldfields in the YukonYukonYukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
. - There is also a breed of purebred catCatThe cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
called a SkookumSkookum (cat)Skookum is the name of a breed of cat. It is a small affectionate cat, very similar to a related breed called the Munchkin, but with curls similar to its other parent breed, the LaPerm. Its head is a broad modified wedge shape with rounded contours and medium large walnut shaped eyes. The head...
. - Skookums is also the name of the companion dog in Ernest Thompson Seton's book "Rolf in the Woods" published by Gossett and Dunlap in 1911. Rolf is a lad that runs away from abusive family to live in the woods with his Indian friend Quonab. He ends as a scout in the war of 1812. The Dog "Skookums" is an integral part of this story.
- Mary McAboy first started making Skookum dolls in 1913 and received a patent for them in 1914. Skookum dolls were popular from the early 1920s until the 1960s. They were factory made dolls that resembled Native American people. They were sold to the tourists at trading posts in the Western United States. Early dolls heads were made of dried apples with the bodies made of wood and stuffed with either leaves, straw, twigs or grass stuffed in a muslin sack. Later the dolls were made from composition and had mohair wigs. Later dolls were made of plastic and had plastic brown shoes. They have "Indian style" blankets as part of their attire. Some had jewelry such as beaded necklaces or earrings. Some dolls have feathered head dresses. The sizes of the dolls ranged from babies inside of cradle boards to large, human size store display dolls. The general rule of thumb is the larger the doll, the more valuable/rare they are. The most common sizes range from about seven inches to about 12 inches tall. Skookums were widely imitated. Minnetonka, Milbros or Minnehaha dolls are similar but not the same. Most Skookum dolls were made so they look to the right. Skookums do not have arms - they are wrapped with blankets and have the suggestion of arms. Skookums never have gray hair as in "elders". Skookums should have the words "Skookum" either stamped on their brown plastic shoes or a tag with "Skookum" on their foot in the case of the older versions.
- Skookums were also a variety/brand of apple grown in Washington state and popular in the UK in the 1960's - 1970's. Their logo was a cartoon portrait of a smiling American Indian.
See also
- SkookumchuckSkookumchuckSkookumchuck is a word in the Chinook Jargon that is in common use in British Columbia English and occurs in Pacific Northwest English. Skookum means "strong" or "powerful", and "chuck" means water, so skookumchuck means "rapids" or "whitewater"...
- List of Chinook Jargon placenames (places with "Skookum" in their names)
- Skookum (cat)Skookum (cat)Skookum is the name of a breed of cat. It is a small affectionate cat, very similar to a related breed called the Munchkin, but with curls similar to its other parent breed, the LaPerm. Its head is a broad modified wedge shape with rounded contours and medium large walnut shaped eyes. The head...
- Skukum GroupSkukum GroupThe Skukum Group is a 55 million year old volcanic group in northern British Columbia and southern Yukon, Canada. It consists of discrete calderas in a linear range from the south end of Atlin Lake to Bennett Lake, then to Aishihik Lake. The cluster of rocks crowds the Mount Skukum gold deposit...
- Da kineDa kineDa kine is an expression in Hawaiian Pidgin , probably derived from "that kind", that usually functions grammatically as a placeholder name , but can also take the role of a verb, adjective, or adverb...
, a roughly similar phrase used in Hawaiian English - HellaHellaHella is a small town in the southern part of Iceland at the shores of the river Ytri-Rangá and has, as of 2011, 781 inhabitants.Hella is situated to the east of Reykjavík on the hringvegur between Selfoss and Hvolsvöllur.-Overview:...
, slang used originally and primarily in Northern CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaNorthern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...