Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-20

Montana Correspondent n. Y. Times
Some of the idiomatic eccentricites of this
part of the country may be of interest to eastern,
readers The literary resources of Miles City
are not yet sufficiently advanced TO enable me to
refer to Bartlett, and | am accordingly some
what in doubt in lOcalzing the subjoined express
sions. As nearly as | can ascertain. however
they are peculiarly in use in Montana or prob
ably originated in this Territory. though their
euphony and tender sentiment may have led to
their adoption in other communities:
BAD LANDS.-A generic name for the Jagged
sterile, aikali hills which abound west of the
Missouri River. The phrase relates to no par
tcular locality, but is applicable to any stfl1cll
of especially rough country.
BELLYACHE.--rog rumble without good cause
Employees ''belyache" at being overw orked or
when they fancy themselves being underfed &c
CiNCH.-To subdue-tO forcibly bind down
and overcome. Thus it is unfairly said that the
Northern Pacific Company intends to .'cnch'
the settlers by eXacting large prices FOR its lands
Query, from Latin cet.ge7Y?
Co0LEY.-A gully. Every ravine short of an
inhabitable valley is called a cooley" From
French coyjee.
CUSs QUITO subdue by overwhelming sever
ity of tongue HE cussed that fellow oui -
4. e., he annihilated him verbally.
TO DOWN. cutting in the bank of stream
for enabling animals to cross or to get To water
LIGHT OUT.-Same as 'skin out, o. Y.
OUTFIT, (stnua. "A comprehensive term. var
large or small, is an "outlit." So also a hay ing
or a numbering party, &c. Likewise person in
buggy or one pushing wheelbarrOw. Indif-
ferently applied to party as whole, or to its
means of travel. its subsistence, &c.
OUTFIT. (cey6 dctioe. ITO outfit is to fit out
for any purpose. whatever. 1--WE Quilted at st.
Paul"
PILGRIM.-A person recently transplanted
upon frontier soil. new arrival. green
horn. About equivalent to tenderfoot.
misunderstanding with circumstances Rs-
Ing superior to all contingencies of ''iuck."
Cattle. in Winter, rustic" for food by nOsing
through the snow to the dried grass beneath.
RUsTLER--One who never succumbs to Cir
cumstances This is about the highest cOmpli-
ment that can be paid to q man who. falling i'm
one thing, finds something else available for his
support.
SAND.-TO have ''sand I'm ones craw." To be
determined and plucky. Equivalent to grit"
SHAoK.-A log cabin. The average .'sfack"
rooted with earth, supported by poles
STAND OFF.-To hold at a distance. as to
''stand off Indians" with ones rifle. From this
beliigerent meaning comes the expression to
''stand Off acreditor, dun, &c.
SKIN QUITO have secretly and hastily, as
when pursued by an enemy. Sitting Bull
skinned out" from the Yellowstone Valley and
sought refuge i'm Canada.
TENDERFOOr.-A new conner, fresh to frontier
ways; one who has not been long enough on the
tramp to become hardened. It is said that in
Colorado an Eastern man is called .'tender-
foot" until he has been stabbed shot at. engaged
in free fight, fallen down mine, been kicked
by mule, and chased by vigilance committee.
No such direful import attaches to the phrase In
Montana, and 1t would seem that In adopting the
word COl0radans have cOlored its meaning with
loeal dgnidsaacs peculiar ts-their own hstitu-
uen4 T.PM