Cheechaco

/tʃiːˈtʃɑkoʊ/ noun

Definition

A newcomer or inexperienced person, especially one unfamiliar with frontier or mining camp conditions; originally used in the Yukon during the Gold Rush.

Etymology

From Chinook Jargon 'chee' (new) + 'chaco' (perhaps from French 'chacun,' meaning 'each'). Emerged in 1890s Yukon Gold Rush vocabulary.

Kelly Says

Cheechaco perfectly captures the Yukon Gold Rush era—experienced miners and prospectors instantly identified newcomers, and the word stuck so well that it's still used over a century later to describe anyone new to the harsh northern frontier.

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