cayuse

¹

[ kahy-yoos, kahy-oos ]

noun

1. Western U.S. a horse, especially an Indian pony.
2. Also called cayuse wind. Northwestern U.S. a cold wind blowing from the east.

Cayuse

²

[ kahy-yoos, kahy-oos ]

noun

, plural Cay·us·es, (especially collectively) Cay·use.

1. a member of a tribe of North American Indians now living in Oregon.

cayuse

/ ˈkaɪuːs /

noun

1. a small Native American pony used by cowboys

Word History and Origins

Origin of cayuse¹

1830–40, Americanism; named after the Cayuse

Word History and Origins

Origin of cayuse¹

C19: from a Chinookan language

Example Sentences

“Druther break cayuses any day, and twice on Sundays,” was the reply of the driver, as he climbed on the wagon and started the horses.

From Literature

Billy’s own horse was a stringy cayuse with a hammer head, but he nearly always won first prize at the stock trials.

From Literature

To ascend this cañon we must commit our lives and fortunes to cayuse ponies and a mountain trail, which, though good enough to the initiated, is a terror to the “tenderfoot.”

From Project Gutenberg

The officials came from far; down the Columbia; up the Cowlitz, and across to Puget Sound, about two hundred miles in primitive style, by canoe, oxcart or cayuse.

From Project Gutenberg

He gave her no opportunity for answering, but struck the cayuse, and they went on again.

From Project Gutenberg