Cayuse

noun

Cay·​use ˈkī-ˌyüs  kī-ˈyüs 

plural Cayuse or Cayuses

1

: a member of a once-nomadic Indigenous people of the northwestern U.S. located primarily in eastern Oregon and Washington

Note: The Cayuse now exist as part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in northeastern Oregon.

2

cayuse plural cayuses, Western US : a native range horse

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cayuse

noun

cay·​use

ˈkī-ˌ(y)üs,

kī-ˈ(y)üs

: a small native horse of the western U.S.