Cheechako

/tʃiːˈtʃɑːkoʊ/ noun

Definition

A newcomer or inexperienced person, especially someone new to the Yukon or Alaska during the gold rush era.

Etymology

From Chinook Jargon 'chee' (new) + 'chako' (arrival or person). The term emerged in the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush when thousands of inexperienced prospectors flooded into Canada's north.

Kelly Says

Old-timers told cheechakos wild stories about freezing so hard their tears would fall like glass—most newcomers didn't realize they were being pranked! The word perfectly captures the culture clash of gold rush camps.

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